It struck at a shallow depth of 10 km (6.2 mi) near Labuha, a small port town located in Bacan Island.

[2] The earthquake produced a non-destructive 20 cm tsunami, which struck Labuha just minutes after the shaking started.

[3] Halmahera lies within a zone of complex tectonics caused by the interaction between the Pacific, Australian, Sunda and Philippine Sea plates.

The Indonesian Meteorological, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency stated that the earthquake had a strike-slip mechanism, meaning that the motion of the rupture was horizontal rather than vertical.

The epicentre is located 63 km off-shore Labuha, a small port town in Bacan Island, whereas the USGS gave an epicenter onshore southern Halmahera.

[1] Officials stated that 18 accelerographs in Indonesia recorded the shaking, with the furthest located in Sidrap, South Sulawesi, approximately 980 kilometers from the epicentre.

[6] Tsunami warnings were not issued by the Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency for the surrounding areas.

[12] Preliminary assessment conducted by the government of North Maluku showed that more than 980 structures had either been heavily damaged or destroyed.

[23] Following the earthquake, electrical problems such as blackouts and short circuits were immediately reported across South Halmahera.

Officials from the Government-owned electrical company (PLN) stated that several power plants suffered some damage in the quake.

Calculations conducted by the Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management estimated that a total damage of Rp 87 billion (US$6 million) had been inflicted.

[30] The vice regent of South Halmahera, Iswan Hasjim, stated that the government would build temporary shelters for the affected residents.

[17] The city of Tidore announced that it would send a truck carrying 3 tonnes of foods and basic needs to South Halmahera.

[34] Meanwhile, Indonesian National Armed Forces dispatched a ship carrying dozens of personnel, including 2 doctors and 8 medical staffs, and aids such as drugs and logistics to Labuha.

The state-owned electrical company PLN sent 5 generators and aids worth of Rp 648 million to 30 villages and 7 districts in the affected areas.

[41][42] Islamic relief organisations such as Hidayatullah,[43] Dompet Dhuafa, ACT and Al-Imdaad Foundation (which was based in South Africa) sent volunteers, donations and aids to the affected areas.