Buol, Central Sulawesi earthquake prompts evacuations

On July 12, 2026 at 20:46 WIB, a shallow tectonic earthquake of magnitude 5.4 (also reported as 5.1 by local officials) struck the Buol region of Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. The BMKG confirmed the quake was not capable of generating a tsunami and reported shaking felt at intensity IV‑V in nearby towns.

The Central Sulawesi disaster agency (BPBD) urged residents to move to higher ground, leading to the evacuation of dozens of people. Power outages were reported in several areas, and rapid‑response teams were deployed to assess damage and support those affected while monitoring for possible aftershocks.