A 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia's Sulawesi island on Tuesday. The epicenter was recorded approximately 42 kilometers southeast of the town of Palu at a depth of 10 kilometers. According to Indonesia's geophysics agency BMKG, there was no tsunami risk.
The strong shaking sent people fleeing into open areas in and around Palu, the capital of Central Sulawesi province which has a population of about 400,000. Indonesia's position on the Pacific Ring of Fire makes the country prone to frequent and strong earthquakes.
The earthquake was followed by strong aftershocks. Authorities have urged the public to exercise caution and heed official advice and instructions, warning that aftershocks can last for hours.