Earthquake near Indonesia: Tsunami alert downgraded

Petobo village on the island of Sulawesi, northwest of Indonesia, has previously been struck by liquefaction. 123rf / Amirudin Agus Nursalim

A tsunami alert was sounded and later downgraded after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake northwest of Indonesia's Maluku Islands.

The tremor was reported 134km northwest of the island of Ternate , 45km deep, according to the US Geological Survey.

The earthquake was located between the islands of Sulawesi and Halmahera.

Felt #earthquake (#gempa) M7.1 strikes 174 km E of #Manado (#Indonesia) 19 min ago. Please report to: https://t.co/c0yxM61zJo pic.twitter.com/Q9jMf8AGyi

— EMSC (@LastQuake) November 14, 2019

One person posted online from the capital city on the island of Sulawesi: "On top floor of a 8-storey apartment building in Manado. Building swayed strongly for a full minute. Painting fell from wall. People rushed out but we did not run downstairs. Still swaying slightly even now."

The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center subsequently issued a statement saying the tsunami danger had "passed".

"There is no longer a tsunami threat from thsi earthquake," it said.

"Minor sea level fluctuations may occur in some coastal areas near the earthquake over the next few hours."