A 6.6-magnitude quake hit in waters off Indonesia’s easternmost province, injuring dozens of people, damaging buildings and sending panicked residents fleeing from homes, hotels and even a hospital. No deaths have been reported.
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No tsunami warning was issued on Friday and there were no reports of casualties or damage after the undersea quake hit at about 1am local time (0200 AEST), some 30km from the coastal city of Sorong, in West Papua province.
Local officials said there was no expectations of a tsunami being caused by this Indonesia natural disaster.
Hundreds of people fled their homes in panic in Sorong and Manokwari city, 315 kilometer (195 miles) to the west, according to residents contacted by telephones, but no tsunami warnings have been posted.
Indonesia is prone to quakes as it sits on a vulnerable quake-endemic zone called “the Pacific Ring of Fire”. This is an area were many divers and other visitors go because it is famous for its handsome islands and variety of colorful tropical fish and coral.
The U.S. Geological Survey put the quake’s magnitude at 6.6.
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Seventeen people were so far known to have sustained serious injuries and 45 to have suffered minor injuries, while 200 houses were damaged, said disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho.
