Strong Quake Strikes Off E. Indonesia, Not Potential for Tsunami

Jakarta (PNA/Xinhua) — An earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale jolted North Sulawesi province in the eastern part of Indonesia earlier Tuesday, but it was not potential for tsunami and left no casualties, an official said here.

The quake struck at 04:04 a.m. Jakarta time Tuesday with epicenter at 71 km northeast Sangihe Island of the province and with the depth at 71 km under seabed, an official of the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency told Xinhua over phone.

“The shakes of the quake were felt moderate. It was not potential to trigger tsunami and did not cause damage. The condition of the people is normal,” Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman of the national disaster management agency told Xinhua via phone after the quake.

At 00:40 a.m. Jakarta time Tuesday, another quake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale struck off East Nusa Tenggara province in central part of Indonesia, the official of the meteorology and geophysics agency said.

The quake was centered at 64 km southeast of the province and with the depth at 65 km under seabed, he said.

Sutopo also confirmed that the quake did not cause any damage.

Indonesia is prone to quake as it lies on a vulnerable quake-hit zone called “the Pacific Ring of Fire.” (PNA/Xinhua) FFC/RCG