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A major quake with tsunami potential hit off eastern Indonesia Saturday, seismologists said, but there were no immediate reports of any damage and the tsunami warning was later lifted. The 7.3-magnitude quake struck at 11:40 pm (1440 GMT) about 209 kilometres (130 miles) northwest of Saumlaki, Maluku province, at a depth of 165 kilometres, the Indonesian Meteorology and Geophysics Agency said. A later US Geological Survey report registered the quake, in the Banda Sea, at a magnitude of 7.0. Indonesia sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," where the meeting of continental plates causes high volcanic and seismic activity. "There is no report of any death toll yet. The Maluku health agency is sending a team to Saumlaki to check on the situation. Communication there is difficult," health ministry crisis centre head Rustam Pakaya said in a text message.
"The quake was not felt in Ambon but it was felt strongly in Manokwari in west Papua." The Meteorology and Geophysics Agency technical head Suharjono said the tsunami warning had been lifted and that the quake had no potential to damage surrounding areas. An AFP reporter in Manokwari said there was no damage in the town. The quake was followed several hours later by two smaller tremors elsewhere in Indonesia. A 5.5-magnitude quake at a shallow depth of 3 kilometres hit 188 kilometres south of Raba on the island of Sumbawa early Sunday. A few minutes later a 5.0-magnitude hit the same area. There was no immediate tsunami warning or reports of damage. |
