A 7.6-magnitude earthquake hits Indonesia and north Australia is affected

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A 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia, affecting the Northern Territory of Australia. Photo/Geoservices Australia

Darwin and other parts of Australia’s Top End have been hit by a major earthquake in Indonesia.

Many locals said it was the strongest earthquake they had felt in years.

“That earthquake was so scary! The whole house shook like crazy and pictures fell off the walls!” Former Olympian and Senator Nova Perez tweeted.

A magnitude 7.6 earthquake was detected in the Arafura Sea, 308 kilometers from the city of Tual in the Tanimbar Islands in the Maluku region of the country.

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The US Geological Survey said it erupted at a depth of 91 kilometers below sea level.

It reached 3.17 am local time (4.47 am EST).

7.5 magnitude earthquake in Indonesia shakes the awake residents of Darwin. Felt all the way to Katherine and Kununora. The strongest I’ve ever felt in Darwin 😳 #earthquake

— Kathleen Gazzola (@kathleengazzola) January 9, 2023

Besides Indonesia and Australia, the earthquake also hit East Timor.

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Impressive that over 2000 reports have been submitted to @GeoscienceAus regarding this #earthquake in #darwin at 330am onwards!! Shows you the scale of the event. It also felt as south as Tennant Creek and as far south as the Kimberley. pic.twitter.com/2YpngjOkIb

— Karl Linders (@KLijnders) January 9, 2023

It was reportedly felt as far south as Tennant Creek and the southern Kimberley region of Western Australia.

The Met Office said there was no danger of a tsunami in Australia. However, the Indonesian authorities issued a tsunami warning for the Tanimbar Islands.

However, Darwin residents reported feeling the tremor as early as Tuesday morning.

Someone said on social media: “This was (the strongest) earthquake I’ve felt since I was in Darwin.”

NT News reporter Annabel Bowles posted a video from her apartment as the quake was progressing, with the tremor clearly audible.

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7.6 on the Richter scale # Earthquake in the Banda Sea in Indonesia undoubtedly felt in Darwin! Dozens of people ran out of their apartments here in Nightcliff. MustafaHosny Oh God, Amen

– Annabel Bowles (@annabel_bowles) January 9, 2023

It was the “strongest thing I’ve ever felt in my entire life in Darwin”, said Kathleen Jazzola, Channel Nine’s chief of staff in Darwin.

Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services posted on Facebook asking if everyone was okay and giving advice on what to do after the earthquake.

Residents responded saying that the fearful quake was the biggest they had felt in many years.

“Has anyone else heard the roar? The first time I heard it during one,” wrote one man from Darwin.

“The strongest earthquake I’ve ever felt in Darwin. My tall house in Rapid Creek shuddered, the floor shook and furniture moved. It was so scary,” said another Darwin resident.

“I heard the door rattle, he jumped out of bed, ran to the fishbowl to stop him from swinging. I went for a long time, the strongest I’ve felt since the big bang that hit Newcastle NSW in the 1980s,” added one woman.

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Those who lived in the apartments felt it worse.

“It was a 30-level experience here in the CBD and not fun,” said one woman.

Another said: “On the fourth floor of a hotel in Darwin, yeah, this earthquake freaked me out for how long it lasted.”

“We are on the 6th floor and it was so scary!!!” Books III.

Some people said they felt the movement for five minutes.

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