Indonesia’s Sulawesi Island Rocked by 7.5 Magnitude Earthquake, Tsunami Warning Called Off
Jakarta: Indonesia was struck by a powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake Friday, the US Geological Survey said, but there were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries.
The country's national disaster agency briefly issued a tsunami warning before cancelling it.
The strong quake hit central Sulawesi island at a shallow depth of some 10 kilometres (six miles), just hours after a smaller quake killed at least one person in the same part of the country.
The latest quake was a higher magnitude than those that killed hundreds on the island of Lombok earlier this year.
Friday's tremor was centred 78 kilometres north of the city of Palu, the capital of Central Sulawesi province, but was felt some 900 kilometres south in the island's largest city Makassar.
Lisa Soba Palloan, a resident of Toraja, around 175 kilometres south of Palu, said locals felt several quakes Friday.
"The last one was quite big," she said.
"Everyone was getting out their homes, shouting in fear."
Indonesia is one of the most disaster-prone nations on earth.
The archipelago nation lies on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", where tectonic plates collide and many of the world's volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur.
A series of quakes that struck Lombok this summer killed about 500 people and forced hundreds of thousands into evacuation shelters or tents.
In 2004, a tsunami triggered by a magnitude 9.3 undersea earthquake off the coast of Sumatra in western Indonesia killed 220,000 people in countries around the Indian Ocean, including 168,000 Indonesians.
Courtesy: www.news18.com
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Rahul celebrates Holi with Cong workers at party office
New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi celebrated Holi with party workers at the AICC's 24, Akbar Road office here on Wednesday, as he was smeared with colours by supporters and leaders.
Gandhi wished everyone a Holi filled with love and one that eliminates hatred.
Surrounded by workers, leaders and journalists at the party office, Gandhi applied colours on everyone and was smeared by 'gulal' in return.
Sharing pictures from the celebration on X, Gandhi said in a post in Hindi, "Heartiest greetings to all of you on the festival of colours and love, Holi. May the colours of Holi fill your lives with new hopes, new enthusiasm and countless happiness."
Earlier, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge greeted people on Holi.
"Holi is a festival that expresses the soul of our colorful, multicultural society. It celebrates the tradition of unity in diversity, mutual harmony, and brotherhood that has been the hallmark of our civilization for centuries," Kharge said in a post in Hindi on X.
"On this joyous occasion that bridges distances, I wish you all a very Happy Holi. May your life always be filled with the colors of happiness," Kharge said.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also greeted people on Holi.
"Heartiest greetings for Holi, the grand festival of togetherness, filled with the diverse colors of joy, enthusiasm, happiness, sweetness, and brotherhood," she said in a post in Hindi on X.
"Holi is a grand festival of lovingly embracing your family, friends and everyone else. Embrace everyone and share happiness with everyone. Happy Holi to all the people of the country!" she said.
रंगों और मोहब्बत के पर्व होली की आप सभी को हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं।
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 4, 2026
होली के रंग आप सभी के जीवन को नई आशाओं, नए उमंग और अनगिनत खुशियों से भर दे। pic.twitter.com/sp10UNSl7v
