Strong quake hits Indonesia's Banda Sea

A strong 7.3 magnitude earthquake has struck in Indonesia's Banda Sea, but authorities say there is no tsunami threat and no reported damage.

Location of a magnitude 7.3 Indonesia earthquake

The earthquake epicentre (black star) hit northwest of Saumlaki in Indonesia. (AAP)

A strong earthquake has struck in Indonesia's Banda Sea, but authorities say there is no tsunami threat.

The US Geological Survey said the magnitude 7.3 quake was centred 208km below the earth's surface. It was felt in parts of Indonesia and in East Timor's capital Dili but there were no reports of damage.

Indonesia's geophysics agency said the deep quake - originally reported as 7.5 magnitude - didn't cause a tsunami.

The Banda Sea quake was recorded shortly after a 6.1 trembler in a thinly populated area 233km west of Papua's Abepura at a depth of 20km.

Rahmat Triyono, Indonesia's head of earthquake and tsunami centre, said the Papua quake was followed by several smaller aftershocks, but there were no immediate reports of major damage or injuries.

Indonesia is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions due to its location along the Pacific "Ring of Fire." A powerful Indian Ocean quake and tsunami in 2004 killed a total of 230,000 people in a dozen countries, most in Indonesia.


Share
1 min read

Published

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world