Unusually powerful M7.4 Earthquake hit in the Maluku Sea 160km from Manado (Indonesia) on Thursday Morning.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on April 1st, 2026. Last updated April 28th, 2026.

An unusually powerful M7.4 earthquake struck in the Maluku Sea 160 kilometer from Manado, Indonesia in the morning of Thursday April 2nd, 2026. Mag 6.5+ earthquakes at shallow depth under sea have the potential to cause tsunami's.

Felt the earthquake? Share this article:

Earthquake Summary

This earthquake hit under water in the Maluku Sea, 118 kilometers (74 mi) off the coast of Indonesia, 160 kilometer east of Manado in North Sulawesi. The center of this earthquake had a quite shallow depth of 35 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	Apr 2, 2026 07:48 (Jayapura Time) - Apr 1, 2026 22:48 Universal Time.
Location:	160 km east of Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Coordinates 1°5'35"N 126°14'7"E.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 7.4 Detected by 15 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.033 .
Depth:	35 km (22 mi) A quite shallow depth.
Max. Intensity:	VIII Severe On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk:	Potential Tsunami Risk Mag 6.5+ earthquakes at shallow depth under sea have the potential to cause tsunami's. Always stay cautious - More info here.

Potential Tsunami Risk

There is a potential tsunami risk in the aftermath of this earthquake, immediately evacuate to higher grounds away from coastal areas and monitor advice from local authorities. This earthquake checks all the likely tsunami risk factors: under sea, at a magnitude of MAG-6.5+ and at a shallow depth.

Tsunami Risk Factors

Minimal impact predicted

The US Geographic Survey (USGS) describes the impact of this earthquake as follows:

One person killed and 3 injured; 1 home destroyed by a landslide and at least 17 homes damaged; several buildings destroyed and at least 55 buildings and 1 road damaged in North Sulawesi. One person injured, at least 133 homes destroyed and 199 damaged; 9 buildings destroyed and 16 buildings and a bridge damaged in North Maluku. Several roads damaged by landslides in Gorontalo. A tsunami was generated with the largest maximum wave height listed in meters based on location: 0.15 in Beo Sulawesi, 0.65 in Kema Sulawesi and 0.13 at Talengen Sulawesi, Indonesia; 0.05 at Davao, Philippines.

Based on scientific estimates by the USGS, the risk of high fatalities for this earthquake is classified at level GREEN (low). They expect an 90% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 fatalities.

The USGS classifies the economic impact of this earthquake at level GREEN (low). They expect an 90% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact.

Roughly 4.4 million people exposed to shaking

This earthquake may have been felt by around 4.4 million people. That is the expected population size of the area exposed to a level of shaking of II or higher on the Modified Mercalli scale according to the USGS.

The highest earthquake impact level for this earthquake is VI, which corresponds with strong shaking and probably light damage. Roughly 412,900 people are expected to be exposed to this level. Intensity level IV was experienced by a large group of people (around 2 million). In their region, light shaking and likely no damage can be expected. All exposure to shaking was within the borders of Indonesia .

Nearby towns and cities

This earthquake may have been felt in Indonesia . The closest significant population center near the earthquake is Ternate in North Maluku, Indonesia. Ternate is located 132 kilometer (82 mi) west of the epicenter. Ternate experienced an earthquake intensity (MMI Scale) of roughly V. That level implies moderate shaking and very light damage.

Multiple large cities are in proximity of today's earthquake. Manado is located 160 km to the west and experienced an intensity of VI (strong shaking, probably light damage). Davao is located 669 km to the north (intensity unknown, possibly low). Budta is located 708 km to the north (intensity unknown, possibly low).

An overview of nearby towns and cities is available in the overview below. If places don't have intensity data available, it likely means the experienced impact in those places was fairly small.

Overview of nearby places

Earthquake Intensity Map

The graph below overlays a map of the region around the epicenter with earthquake intensity data provided by the US Geographic Survey. The highest intensity level detected for this earthquake is VIII.

I Not felt

II Weak

III Weak

IV Light

V Moderate

VI Strong

VII Very Strong

VIII Severe

IX Violent

X Extreme

Shaking reported by 53 people in 2 countries

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 53 people have reported shaking in 12 places in 2 countries (Indonesia, Philippines).We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.

Places with most reports:

• Manado, Sulawesi Utara, Indonesia: 21 people.
• Ternate, Maluku Utara, Indonesia: 11 people.
• Bitung, Sulawesi Utara, Indonesia: 10 people.
• Davao, Southern Mindanao, Philippines: 2 people.
• Katangawan, Southern Mindanao, Philippines: 2 people.
• Gorontalo, Gorontalo, Indonesia: 1 person.
• Tondano, Sulawesi Utara, Indonesia: 1 person.
• Tomohon, Sulawesi Utara, Indonesia: 1 person.
• Tidore, Maluku Utara, Indonesia: 1 person.
• Cablalan, Southern Mindanao, Philippines: 1 person.

923 Aftershocks detected

This main shock was followed by 923 smaller aftershocks. A 6.2 magnitude earthquake hit 5 hrs later 29 km (18 mi) north-east of this earthquake.

Before this earthquake struck, 2 smaller foreshocks occurred. Nearby this earthquake a foreshock struck 2 days earlier. It measured a magnitude of 3.2

Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks