Earthquakes Rock Sulawesi

Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an arc of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin where the tectonic plates are constantly moving to some degree every day causing earthquakes.

Recently the earthquake activity has been increasing steadily. It has been so noticeable in the last ten years and the intensity and frequency of this activity has generally been above or just around 5.0 on the Richter scale. There is most certainly a massive earthquake due some time in the future to rival that of the ones in Aceh over a year ago and that of the quake in Yogyakarta recently.

Two undersea earthquakes rocked Indonesia's eastern Sulawesi Island on Friday, but apparently there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. According to news sources the magnitude 5.7 and 5.4 quakes struck three hours apart and were felt in parts of North and Central Sulawesi.

In the Buol and Toli Toli regencies in Central Sulawesi people ran out of their houses and offices in panic when the most powerful quake struck. The quakes epicentre lay some 60 kilometres east of Buol and 61 kilometres below the earth's surface.

Being in an earthquake is a very unnerving experience and I have been in Yogyakarta when a few have occurred but thankfully not on the scale as the recent devastating earthquake. I suppose its only natural human instinct to run for safety and your life but in some cases, it's best just to sit it out. But I would sure as hell know if it was a big quake and I would be grabbing Candika's hand and heading for the hills!.