7.2 Magnitude Quake Hits Papua, Indonesia

Jakarta (PNA/Xinhua) — A 7.2 magnitude quake rocked Papua in easternmost of Indonesia earlier Tuesday, the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency reported here.

The quake struck at 04:41 a.m. Jakarta time Tuesday (21:41 GMT Monday) with epicenter at 75 km southeast Mamberamoraya of Papua and with the depth at 49 km under land, an official of the agency said.

“The center of the quake was under earth,” he told Xinhua by phone.

The shakes of the quake were felt at 4 MMI (Modified Mercally Intensity) in Harmi, 3 MMI in Sentani, 2 to 3 MMI in Jayapura, Wamena and Biak, the official said.

The U.S. Geological Survey reported earlier that the quake was detected to be 7.0 magnitude.

Spokesman of the National Disaster Management Agency Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said that the shakes of quake triggered panic and forced people to come out of their homes at the quake-hit areas, but so far, there is no initial report of building damages or casualty.

Still, local officials of the agency are monitoring and checking the impact of the quake, he said.

“Difficulty in reaching the areas and lacking of accessibility, have slowed the efforts,” the spokesman told Xinhua via phone.

Indonesia is prone to quake as it sits on a vulnerable quake-hit zone called “Pacific Ring of Fire”. (PNA/Xinhua) JBP/EBP