Key takeaways:

• A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia's Sulawesi on Wednesday.
• The tremor occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers, with no tsunami risk reported.
• Residents experienced panic, but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

JAKARTA: A shallow 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck near the Indonesian island of Sulawesi on Wednesday morning, causing residents to rush outdoors. The tremor, which occurred at 6:55 AM local time (2255 GMT), was registered at a depth of 10 kilometers by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Indonesia's meteorological agency reported a slightly lower magnitude of 6.0 and confirmed that there was no potential for a tsunami, easing fears among the public.

Witness accounts from North Sulawesi described people fleeing buildings in panic as the quake hit. One local, Gita Waloni, shared her harrowing experience, stating, "I had just woken up when I realised it was an earthquake. It was strong, swaying from side to side," adding that she felt the need to evacuate immediately for safety.

The region is familiar with seismic activity, being situated on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", where tectonic plates frequently collide, leading to earthquakes. This area has seen significant quakes in the past, including a devastating 6.2-magnitude earthquake in January 2021 that resulted in over 100 fatalities, as well as a catastrophic 7.5-magnitude quake and subsequent tsunami in 2018 that killed more than 2,200 people in Palu.

Although the recent earthquake caused alarm, authorities reported no immediate damage or casualties. Emergency services continue monitoring the situation closely. For further details, view the full reports from India Times and Jakarta Post.