A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.9 struck the Banda Sea, Indonesia, on Wednesday, November 8, 2023. The earthquake was felt in the city of Ambon, which is located on the island of Maluku. The National Center for Seismology said that the epicenter of the earthquake was located 229 kilometers (142 miles) southeast of Ambon and 146 kilometers (91 miles) deep.
The earthquake caused shaking in Ambon, but there were no immediate reports of any damage or injuries. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said that there was no threat of a tsunami from the earthquake.
Indonesia is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, a seismically active area that is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The country has experienced a number of devastating earthquakes in recent years, including the 2010 earthquake in Sumatra that killed over 220,000 people.
The earthquake is a reminder of the seismic hazards that Indonesia faces. The country has a strong building code in place, but many buildings in Indonesia are not built to withstand strong earthquakes. The government has been working to improve earthquake preparedness in recent years, but there is still much work to be done.
