A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck in the Molucca Sea off Indonesia's Ternate island early Thursday, killing at least one person.
The quake, which struck at 06:48 local time (22:48 GMT) at a depth of 35km, sparked tsunami warnings which have since been withdrawn.
A 70-year-old woman in North Sulawesi died after being crushed by building debris, and another person broke their leg after jumping off a building, Indonesia's national news agency Antara reported.
While the region experiences high levels of seismic activity, some residents told the BBC this was one of the strongest earthquakes they have felt in at least the past six years.
The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially warned that tsunami waves less than 0.3m (1 ft) 'were possible' along the coasts of Guam, Japan, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Taiwan. The tsunami alert was lifted after two hours.
Journalist Isvara Safitri, who lives in central Manado, recalled how furniture in her room shook for several seconds. 'It was really strong... My head even felt dizzy,' she said.
Yayuk Oktiani, another resident, described the panic at the market as everything began to shake, prompting people to flee.
The epicenter of the quake was roughly between Manado and Ternate, and at least two aftershocks followed.
The national geological agency reported 'damage to buildings and injuries' about an hour after the initial tremor, with footage showing residents walking through rubble at a sports complex.
Patients at the nearby Siloam Hospital remembered the chaotic evacuation efforts as they were rushed outside amidst the tremors.
This quake adds to the ongoing seismic concerns in a region known for its geological activity.
