No tsunami risk after new east Indonesia quake

Jakarta, Feb 21: An earthquake struck off the Moluccas islands in eastern Indonesia today, sparking panic among residents, although an official at the country's meteorology agency ruled out the risk of a tsunami.

A stronger earthquake struck the area yesterday, triggering a brief tsunami alert.

Indonesia's Meteorology and Geophysics Agency put today's quake at 6.0 on the Richter scale. In a text phone message, it said the epicentre was 34 km from Labuha town in North Moluku province.

An official at the agency said later by telephone that there was no risk of a tsunami.

Joko Sumardiono at the local meteorology agency in Labuha said some jumpy residents had taken cover overnight in higher ground after rumours of a tsunami from yesterday's quake.

''There was no tsunami by morning, and people returned home. But then at 0919, there was another quake. We have not got any reports of casualties.'' Another local official said that after the latest quake more than 1,400 people fled their homes in four areas.

The US Geological Survey said on its Web site (http://earthquake.usgs.gov) the latest quake's magnitude was 5.5 and occurred at 0749 hrs with the epicentre 10 km under the sea.

REUTERS

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