Palu Earthquake

On June 16, 2026, at 10:27 a.m. local time (03:27 UTC), a magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck approximately 42 km southeast of Palu, the capital of Central Sulawesi province, at a depth of 16 km. The strong shaking was felt across Palu, home to around 400,000 people, and the surrounding regencies of Sigi and Donggala. Many residents fled into open areas as buildings shook, and several hospitals evacuated patients outdoors as a precaution. Later assessments counted one death in Sigi Regency, 74 people injured, 1,360 houses damaged, and 5,744 people affected. The event stirred deep fear among locals, evoking memories of the devastating 2018 Palu earthquake and tsunami that killed more than 4,000 people and caused widespread liquefaction. No tsunami was generated by the 2026 quake, though coastal communities remained on heightened alert in the hours following the tremor. Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) deployed emergency response teams and coordinated with the Indonesian Red Cross (Palang Merah Indonesia) and humanitarian organizations to provide shelter, medical assistance, and supplies to affected families.