Quick summary: A powerful 6.7-magnitude earthquake in central Indonesia has injured at least eight people and triggered widespread panic across regions still deeply traumatised by past catastrophic seismic events. The immediate evacuation of patients from local hospitals and the flight of residents from coastal areas highlight the acute psychological toll and ongoing vulnerability of these communities. Strengthening regional infrastructure and enhancing public health psychiatric support are critical public policy imperatives required to manage the profound mental health repercussions and protect community well-being during recurring natural disasters.
A 6.7-magnitude earthquake shook central Indonesia’s Sulawesi island on Tuesday (16 June), injuring at least eight people, causing scattered damage, and rattling residents of a city devastated by a quake and tsunami eight years ago.
The strong shaking sent people fleeing into open areas in and around Palu, a city of about 400,000 people, and the capital of Central Sulawesi province. Several hospitals evacuated patients, some with IV drips, outdoors as a safety measure.
At least eight people were injured in Sigi and rushed to a nearby hospital, including two with serious injuries, according to the National Search and Rescue Agency. Three regencies close to the epicentre, with a combined population of 1.2 million, have yet to be fully assessed. The National Disaster Management Agency said information on the damage, possible casualties, and displaced people were still being gathered.
Images from the area showed heavily damaged structures with partially collapsed roofs, shattered walls, and debris scattered across streets.
Effendi Natali, general manager of a four-star hotel in Palu, said all guests had been evacuated, including some who had remained in their rooms. “They all panicked, which is a natural reaction during an earthquake, but everyone is safe,” he said, adding that the hotel sustained only minor damage.
The initial quake was centred 43 km east-southeast of Palu and was about 10 km deep, according to the US Geological Survey. Several aftershocks followed, the strongest measuring 5.2-magnitude.
People moved away from coastal areas as a precaution against a possible tsunami. Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency said there was no tsunami danger but warned that aftershocks could continue.
“The earthquake shaking was extremely strong,” said Muhtar Ahmad. “We are still traumatised by the previous earthquake, so we chose to remain outside because we are afraid that aftershocks may continue.”
Many Sulawesi residents are haunted by the magnitude 7.5 earthquake that devastated Palu in 2018, which set off a three-metre tsunami and a phenomenon called liquefaction, in which soil collapses into itself. More than 4,000 people were killed, including many buried when whole neighbourhoods were swallowed by the falling ground. In January 2021, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake near the city of Mamuju on Sulawesi island left at least 100 people dead, with thousands sleeping outdoors for days out of fear of aftershocks.
Indonesia is crossed by several seismic faults, and earthquakes and volcanic activity are common across the archipelago.
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