According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the quake occurred at around 12:49 local time. The epicenter was located to be about 177km west of Tual city in Maluku province. The USGS estimated the quake's depth at 66 km, while the BMKG reported a depth of 98km.

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(Photo for illustration)

Meanwhile, the German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ) recorded a magnitude 6.8 earthquake with a depth of 10km.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center and BMKG said the quake did not have the potential to generate a tsunami. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties, although tremors were felt in several small towns in eastern Indonesia.

Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, is prone to frequent seismic activity due to its location along the Pacific "Ring of Fire," a region of high tectonic activity.

In 2018, a 7.5-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami devastated the city of Palu on Sulawesi island, claiming more than 2,200 lives. In 2004, a massive 9.1-magnitude quake off the coast of Aceh province triggered a tsunami that killed over 170,000 people in Indonesia alone.

Source: VNA