Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Centre has said the island’s coastal areas are safe after a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia’s Molucca Sea yesterday, triggering tsunami alerts in parts of Southeast Asia. The quake occurred at 6:48 a.m. local time between the Sulawesi and Maluku island groups. The US Geological Survey said waves of up to 30 cm could reach nearby Indonesian coasts, with smaller waves possible in neighbouring regions.

Indonesian broadcaster Metro TV reported one person got killed in Manado after rubble fell from damaged buildings, while residents rushed out of their homes in panic. Tsunami monitoring agencies said hazardous waves were possible along parts of Indonesia, Philippines and Malaysia, though authorities in those countries said no destructive tsunami threat had been detected.