BMKG detects tsunami waves up to 18 cm in North Sulawesi, North Maluku

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) confirmed that minor tsunami waves ranging from 9 to 18 centimeters were recorded at three observation points following a magnitude 7.7 tectonic earthquake in the Sulawesi Sea.

Speaking at a press conference in Jakarta on Monday, BMKG Deputy for Geophysics Nelly Florida Riama said the tsunami waves were detected in Ulu Siau and Melonguane in North Sulawesi, as well as at a monitoring station in North Maluku.

Although the tsunami anomalies recorded so far remain relatively small, BMKG has urged residents in potentially affected areas to remain vigilant and follow all evacuation instructions issued by authorities.

Riama noted that, based on the agency's tsunami modeling, several coastal areas could experience wave heights classified under Alert and Warning categories.

She therefore called on the public and regional administrations to continue monitoring updates on sea conditions through BMKG's official information channels.

"We urge the public to continue following information issued by BMKG. Based on our modeling, several areas remain under alert, with projected tsunami heights ranging between Alert and Warning levels," she said.

BMKG, together with relevant agencies, is conducting continuous real-time monitoring of tide gauges and other tsunami detection systems to ensure the safety of coastal communities in northern and eastern Indonesia.

The agency issued a tsunami early warning less than 10 minutes after the magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck the Sulawesi Sea at 6:37 a.m. Western Indonesian Time (WIB) on Monday. The earthquake's epicenter was located at a depth of 47 kilometers northwest of Karatung Island, North Sulawesi, in the Mindanao sector of the Philippines.

According to BMKG, the earthquake was triggered by subduction zone activity.

"Considering the location of the epicenter and the depth of the hypocenter, this was a shallow earthquake caused by plate subduction activity," BMKG Director for Earthquakes and Tsunamis Wijayanto said.

A focal mechanism analysis indicates that the earthquake resulted from a thrust fault.

Related news: Tsunami early warning issued after 7.7M quake in Sulawesi Sea

Related news: Indonesia inspects infrastructure after 7.6 North Sulawesi quake

Translator: M. Riezko Bima, Resinta Sulistiyandari

Editor: Primayanti

Copyright © ANTARA 2026