Central Sulawesi. A tectonic earthquake with a magnitude of 5.0 struck the North Coast area of Parigi Moutong, Central Sulawesi, on Wednesday morning. The tremors caused panic at the Anutapura Regional General Hospital and disrupted learning activities in several schools.

Until noon, 51 aftershocks had shaken the Parigi Moutong Regency. As a result, one elementary school building sustained minor damage, although there were no casualties. However, the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) confirmed that the earthquake did not have a tsunami potential.

According to BMKG data, the mainshock with a magnitude of 5.0 occurred at 06:53:12 a.m.The epicenter was located at coordinates 0.88 S, 120.28 E, or 44 km northeast of Palu, at a depth of 10 km. The tremors were felt in Parigi (IV MMI) and Palu (III-IV MMI).

"Until 11:23:59 a.m., BMKG recorded a total of 51 earthquakes, including the mainshock and 50 aftershocks with increasingly weakening magnitudes," explained the Head of the BMKG Earthquake and Tsunami Center, Daryono, in an official release.

The quite strong earthquake tremors were felt in the areas of Parigi, Palu, and even Poso. At Anutapura Hospital, patients, medical staff, and visitors panicked and rushed out of the building when the earthquake occurred. Medical teams promptly evacuated patients to open areas for safety.

Meanwhile, teaching and learning activities in several schools in Parigi and Palu were temporarily halted. Teachers and students chose to continue learning activities outdoors to avoid the risk of building collapse.

The Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) of Parigi Moutong reported damage at Grade School 1 West Tolai, Torue District. "One ceiling panel in a classroom fell, which is categorized as minor damage. There are no reports of casualties or injuries," said the Acting Head of BPBD Parigi Moutong, Rivai.

Currently, BPBD, along with sub-district officials, village officials, and volunteers, continues to conduct field monitoring. "We urge the public to remain calm and not be provoked by rumors. Ensure that evacuation routes and family gathering points are already known," added Rivai.

The public is advised to remain calm and not be easily influenced by unverified information. Residents are also asked to ensure the safety of buildings before re-entering their homes. All official information comes only from BMKG's official communication channels, such as the social media account @infoBMKG, the website bmkg.go.id, or the Mobile BMKG application.

Advisory from BPBD Parigi Moutong:

1. Remain alert for aftershocks; immediately move away from buildings if shaking occurs.

2. Avoid spreading hoaxes and only trust official information from BMKG or the local government.

3. Prepare an emergency bag containing important documents, food, and medicine.

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