April 12, 2019 Earthquake: Luwuk, Sulawesi Island, Indonesia

A strong 6.8-magnitude earthquake has rocked eastern Indonesia, reportedly killing one person and triggering a brief tsunami warning that sent panicked residents fleeing to higher ground. The quake struck at a relatively shallow depth of 17 kilometres off the east coast of Sulawesi island, the US Geological Survey said. A 7.5-magnitude quake and tsunami struck near the city of Palu on the other side of the island last year, killing more than 4,300 people. Three light-to-moderate aftershocks occurred in the same area following the initial quake Friday, USGS reported. It warned that considerable damage was possible in poorly built or badly designed structures. Indonesia's disaster agency issued a tsunami warning for coastal communities in Morowali district, where residents were advised to move away from the coast. The warning was later lifted by the agency, which had estimated the wave at under a half a metre. Video footage from Luwuk city showed scared residents - some carrying children - running from their homes and racing to higher ground on motorcycles. One person trying to flee fell and died, Kompas.com news website reported, citing a provincial health worker. (reference #12403)