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MANADO, bhayaksa.net— Residents of Manado, North Sulawesi, were startled by a fairly strong tectonic earthquake on Thursday afternoon (9/17/2026). The magnitude 5.1 earthquake reportedly hit at around 2:20 PM WITA.
The epicenter was detected at sea, precisely 118 kilometers northwest of Jailolo, West Halmahera, North Maluku, at a depth of 24 kilometers. The earthquake occurred due to subduction activity in the Molucca Sea Plate, moving in a thrust fault mechanism.
According to data, the tremors were distinctly felt indoors by most residents in Manado at an intensity scale of III MMI, resembling the vibration of a large truck passing by. Similar tremors were also reported by residents in Ternate and the Batang Dua region.
“My desk shook for a few seconds. It was strong enough that several employees in the office decided to run outside to secure themselves,” said Rendy, a local resident in downtown Manado.
In response to the incident, the Manado City Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) immediately deployed a quick response team to monitor the situation across several vulnerable areas.
In an official statement, the Head of BPBD Manado announced that based on the latest monitoring and coordination with local neighborhood officials, Manado remains safe and under control. As of this evening, BPBD Manado has received no reports of damage to public facilities, residential areas, or any casualties resulting from the earthquake.
The earthquake has been confirmed to pose no tsunami threat. BPBD officials have urged the public to remain calm, avoid structures with visible structural cracks, and disregard any hoaxes or unverified rumors circulating on social media.
Reporter: Jolli langingi
Editor: bhayaksa.net Team
