Earthquake in Indonesia creates tsunami panic

Jakarta, Jan 4: Eastern Indonesia on Sunday, Jan 4 struck with a strong earthquake of magnitude 7.2 cutting power lines. The tremor made panicked residents rush out of their homes towards higher grounds.

With this huge magnitude, the Indonesian Meteorology and Seismology Agency warned of a tsunami. There was no immediate reports of gfiant waves afterwhich, the warning was lifted off.

The tremor struck at 2.43 am, around 85 miles (135 kilometers) off the coast of Manokwari, Papua, at a depth of 6 miles (10 kilometers).

US Geological survey has gauged the earthquake to be of 7.6 magnitude. Shallow earthquakes generally cause more damage than deeper ones.

"Electricity went off and people fled their homes in the dark, fearing a tsunami, said Hasim Rumatiga," a local health official.

Indonesia straddles a chain of faultlines and volcanoes known as the Pacific 'Ring of Fire' and is prone to seismic activity.

OneIndia News (With inputs from Agencies)