Strong earthquake strikes Indonesia

A strong 6.7-magnitude earthquake has struck the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. There were no immediate reports of casualties or major damage in the earthquake that struck on Tuesday (June 16), Deutsche Welle reported.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck east-southeast of Palu, the capital of Central Sulawesi province, at 10:27 a.m. local time. Its epicenter was about 10 kilometers below the surface and about 43 kilometers from Palu.

Authorities said there was no risk of a tsunami after the earthquake. However, patients in some hospitals were evacuated as a precaution. Several aftershocks were felt after the initial quake, the strongest of which measured 5.2.

Video footage from the affected area showed some buildings with partially collapsed roofs, walls cracked and debris strewn about. However, the country's national disaster management agency said it was still collecting information on the true extent of the damage, casualties or displaced people.

Efendi Natali, the manager of a four-star hotel in Palu, said all guests at the hotel had been safely evacuated after the earthquake. "Many guests were frightened. But everyone is safe," he said, adding that the hotel suffered minor damage.

Nurhaidar, a resident of Palu, said he was cooking in the kitchen when he suddenly felt a strong tremor. "It felt like the whole house was shaking and the roof would collapse at any moment," he said. "I quickly took the children out."

Located on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," Indonesia is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries. Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions regularly occur in the region.

It is worth noting that a massive 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck the city of Palu in 2018. The earthquake was followed by a tsunami and a rare geological phenomenon called 'liquefaction', which killed thousands of people and submerged many areas underground.