A 7.4 magnitude earthquake in the Molucca Sea is a stark reminder that Indonesia sits on one of the most dangerous seismic zones on Earth. Shallow offshore quakes like this one amplify shaking and tsunami risk across hundreds of miles of coastline, threatening hundreds of thousands of people in cities like Ternate and Manado. The Pacific Ring of Fire demands serious, sustained investment in early warning systems and coastal preparedness.
Indonesia's earthquake disasters aren't just acts of nature — human-driven climate change, rampant deforestation and irresponsible mining have made the country far more vulnerable to cascading catastrophes. The biggest obstacle is denial: Indonesia leads the world in climate change skepticism, which paralyzes the policy action needed to protect millions of people. Ignoring the human role in amplifying natural disasters is a choice, and it's costing lives.
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