Strong quake hits Indonesia, not potential for tsunami

JAKARTA - Powerful quake struck off Maluku in eastern parts of Indonesia after midnight Tuesday, but no potential for tsunami and no initial reports of damage or casualty, officials said here.

The Indonesian Meteorology and Geophysics Agency reported that the quake was measured at 7.4 magnitude with the depth at 10 km undersea bed, but the USGS said on  its website it was at 7.2 magnitude with the depth at 155.2 km under sea bed.

According to the agency, the quake struck at 23 : 53 p.m. Jakarta time Monday or 01 : 53 a.m. local time Tuesday (1653 GMT Monday) with epicenter at 180 km northwest of southeast Maluku Barat, an official of the agency said.

"We do not issue a tsunami warning," he told Xinhua by phone.

The intensity of the quake was felt at 4 to 5 MMI (Modifies Mercalli Intensity) at Saumlaki of Maluku and 2 to 3 MMI at Maluku, the official said.

Spokesman of the National Disaster Management and Mitigation Agency Sutopo Purwo Nugroho told Xinhua by phone that there was no initial reports of building damaged or those injured.

"There is no any reports of building collapse or casualty," he told Xinhua by phone.

Indonesia sits on a vulnerable quake hit-zone so called "the Pacific Ring of Fire."