M5.2 Earthquake Rattling Northern Sulawesi
Shallow Tremor Felt in Sangihe and Talaud Islands
A moderate earthquake measuring M5.2 struck the Talaud Islands region of North Sulawesi, Indonesia, on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at 11:09 PM WIB (Western Indonesian Time). While not causing major damage, the shallow quake was felt by residents in nearby regions.
Epicenter Located in the Sea
The earthquake’s epicenter was pinpointed at coordinates 4.80 N and 126.35 E, in the sea 81 kilometers northwest of Karatung Island, North Sulawesi. At a depth of 10 kilometers, this quake is classified as shallow.
Strike-Slip Movement Mechanism
Daryono, Director of Earthquake and Tsunami at Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), explained that the earthquake was caused by a strike-slip movement mechanism. Daryono’s statement was made on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
“Considering the epicenter location and hypocenter depth, the earthquake that occurred is a type of shallow earthquake due to the activity of the active underwater fault. The source mechanisms analysis results show that earthquake has a strike-slip movement mechanism,” Daryono clarified.
Varying Intensity Felt in Nearby Regions
Based on the shakemap estimation map, tremors from the quake were felt with moderate intensity in the Sangihe Islands Regency, reaching level IV on the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) scale. Level IV on the MMI scale means many people indoors likely felt the shaking, and also could have been felt by people outdoors at around day break.
In the Talaud Islands Regency, the intensity was level III on the MMI scale. This indicates the shaking was clearly felt indoors, similar to a truck passing by.
Tsunami Risk Ruled Out
The BMKG assured the public that there was no tsunami threat associated with this earthquake. Their modeling results confirmed the absence of a tsunami risk.
Ongoing monitoring until 11:35 PM WIB on December 3rd revealed no aftershock activity following the main tremor.
Daryono urged the public to remain calm and rely on official information. “In order to avoid buildings cracking or collapsing due to the earthquake,” he reminded residents.
What are the potential risks associated with living in the Talaud Islands region due to its location on the edge of the Philippine Sea Plate?
## Seismologist Discusses Recent Sulawesi Earthquake
**[INTRO MUSIC]**
**HOST:** Welcome back to the show. We’re talking about that 5.2 magnitude earthquake that rattled Northern Sulawesi just last night. To help us understand what happened, we’ve got Dr. Anya Petrova, a seismologist with the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, joining us today. Thank you for being here, Dr. Petrova.
**DR. PETROVA:** Thank you for having me.
**HOST:** So, Dr. Petrova, can you tell our viewers a little bit more about this earthquake?
**DR. PETROVA:** Certainly. Last night’s earthquake was a moderate tremor, registering a 5.2 on the Richter scale. The epicenter was located in the ocean, approximately 81 kilometers northwest of Karatung Island in the Talaud Islands region. Fortunately, despite being relatively shallow, the quake didn’t cause any major damage.
**HOST:** That’s good news. The Talaud Islands are no stranger to seismic activity, are they?
**DR. PETROVA:** Indeed. The region sits on the edge of the Philippine Sea Plate, which is a highly active tectonic plate. Earthquakes are fairly common in this area.
**HOST:** This particular earthquake happened just over six years after the devastating 7.5 magnitude earthquake and tsunami that struck Sulawesi in 2018, which tragically resulted in over 400 deaths [[1](https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/29/asia/indonesia-earthquake/index.html)]. Do you think this latest event is related in any way?
**DR. PETROVA:** While both events occurred in Sulawesi, they are likely unrelated. They occurred in different parts of the island with significant distance between them. This most recent quake is localized to the Talaud Islands region.
**HOST:** That’s reassuring. What can we learn from this event?
**DR. PETROVA:** This event serves as a reminder that Indonesia is located in a seismically active zone and earthquakes are a constant possibility. It underscores the importance of earthquake preparedness and having mitigation strategies in place.
**HOST:** Excellent advice. Dr. Petrova, thank you for your time and your insights.
**[OUTRO MUSIC]**
