Strong quake hits Indonesia sea; local tsunami risk reported

A strong earthquake has hit off the Indonesian coast in the Molucca Sea, creating risk of tsunami risk in nearby areas

A strong earthquake hit off the Indonesian coast in the Molucca Sea early Friday, creating the risk of tsunami in nearby areas.

The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the magnitude 7.1 quake was centered in the sea about 140 kilometers (86 miles) northwest of Ternate in North Maluku province.

Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climate and Geophysics Agency issued a tsunami warning, suggesting people to stay away from the coast line.

The quake has awakened residents in some cities in North Sulawesi and North Maluku provinces, causing some to run out in panic to higher places, Kompas TV Reported.

Rahmat Triyono, a senior official of the agency, which put the quake’s depth at 73 kilometers, said the warning was especially issued for the eastern part of North Sulawesi Province.

“We issued the tsunami warning with an alert that any tsunami is estimated at only at a height of around 50-centimeters (20-inches),” he told Kompas TV.

Kompas TV also reported that government officials in North Maluku have prepared for possible evacuation of residents. Some patients at a hospital In North Sulawesi’s capital of Manado, were evacuated from their rooms.

There were no immediate reports of injury or damage, but the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said that hazardous tsunami waves were possible within 300 kilometers (186 miles) of the epicenter. It reported no tsunami risk for more distant areas.