Tsunami, damage and panic after strong M6.1 earthquake hits Indonesian Moluccas (videos and photos)

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Hundreds of people near Indonesia’s Moluccas islands rushed to higher ground on Wednesday, June 16, 2021, fearing aftershocks and a possible tsunami after a M6.1 earthquake.

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M6.1 earthquake hits Moluccas Island in Indonesia on June 16, 2021. Picture via DM

The quake struck at a depth of 19 km (11 miles). There were no immediate reports of casualties.

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Map of the epicenter of the M6.1 earthquake that triggered a tsunami off Moluccas Island in Indonesia. Map via USGS

Indonesia’s Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) urged people in a text message to move away from beaches and seek higher ground, noting that the warning applied especially to Seram Island.

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The wall of this house cracked down after the M6.1 earthquake and tsunami on Moluccas Island in Indonesia on June 16, 2021. via Facebook

BMKG had initially said a tsunami triggered by the movement of tectonic plates was unlikely – but then said one could still be triggered by underwater landslides, of which there would be no warning.

There was indeed a tsunami, small but still scary:

“If the tsunami is caused by an underwater landslide, it cannot be detected from the current early warning system,” the head of BMKG, Dwikorita Karnawati,told a news conference.

She said residents should move to higher ground immediately if they felt aftershocks, and not wait for an official alert.

BMKG said in a separate statement that sea levels had risen at one point by as much as 50 cm (20 inches). It said 13 aftershocks had been recorded so far.

A local civil emergency official said there were no reports of injured people or casualties so far, but some buildings and public facilities had sustained damage.

Earlier the water level was seen rising briefly, but we have not received further reports yet,” said the official, Henri Far Far.

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Damage after M6.1 earthquake and tsunami on Moluccas Island in Indonesia on June 16, 2021. via Facebook
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A house damaged after the M6.1 earthquake and tsunami on Moluccas Island in Indonesia on June 16, 2021. via Facebook
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A fence destroyed after the M6.1 earthquake and tsunami on Moluccas Island in Indonesia on June 16, 2021. via Facebook

Hundreds of residents ran up hills fearing a tsunami, but then returned home, according to an official with the Central Maluku regency disaster agency.

Many houses are damaged here,” said Asmiathy, a 20-year-old teacher in the area who goes by only one name.

It’s dark already and everyone here in this village is evacuating to the mountain because we still keep feeling the aftershocks,” she said. “I’m still in panic.” [Reuters, DM]

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2 Comments

  1. Well, those poor folks never get a break. Volcanoes, tsunamis, landslides, and earthquakes.

    There’s been at least 15 articles on Indonesia up here in the past year or so. Gives me gray hair just reading about it.

    • Off topic detour: ⚾️

      Ha, I bought an old Wilson baseball glove online from around 1977. Grade B condition. Snap action Fieldmaster. I have an A-2000 from 1973.

      Well, the one that came in the mail today said,
      Made in Indonesia.

      Stiching is fine too. Need to hit it with the Wislon glove cream, but it’s a nice second glove, little small for me, but still for $20.

      Nothing like throwing the ball around. Beats listening to some radio news that does nothing but gaslight good people, and lie!

      That’s the first time I bought something that said Made in Indonesia. I remember my Wilson A-2000 said Made in U.S.A.
      I think South Korea made some Wilson products back then too.

      Well, that’s enough boring everyone. I still listen to baseball on the radio. No tv out here. You can get it but it’s all ludicrous buttclownery. Bad for you too.

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