A 6.5-magnitude earthquake hit Indonesia’s eastern Papua province on Thursday, according to the US Geological Survey. The earthquake struck at around 14:48 local time (05:48 GMT), with its epicenter about 200 kilometers (125 miles) from Jayapura at a depth of 35 kilometers, AFP said.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii confirmed shortly after the tremors that there was no tsunami threat in the region and no immediate reports of damage.
Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported a 6.4-magnitude earthquake at a depth of 16 kilometers.
Daryono, director of the earthquake and tsunami agency, who is using only one name, said no aftershocks had been detected so far.
Indonesia, a vast island nation, is highly prone to earthquakes as it lies along the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire’ – a zone of intense seismic activity caused by the movement and collision of tectonic plates. This geological belt stretches from Japan through Southeast Asia and around the Pacific Ocean.
The Indonesian province of Papua is located on the western half of a large island that it shares with Papua New Guinea.
Earlier earthquakes
A 6.6-magnitude earthquake struck on October 7 near Lae, Papua New Guinea’s second-largest city, according to the US Geological Survey. The earthquake caused panic among mourners gathered at the stadium, although no immediate damage was reported.
The epicenter was 26 kilometers (16 miles) from Lae, a town of more than 76,000 people, and tremors were also felt in the capital, Port Moresby, according to reports on social media.
Papua New Guinea government official Malum Nalu said the “very strong” earthquake struck at around 9pm while he was at Lae Stadium with hundreds of others attending a ceremony honoring the late governor of Morobe province. He said the earthquake struck just as soldiers were carrying Luther Wenge’s casket to the funeral home.
Nalu told Reuters: “There was a big rumble, like a plane flying overhead, then the building shook violently for about three minutes. The place was packed with hundreds of people inside. When the earthquake hit, people were rushing to the exits and the deputy prime minister told everyone to stay calm.”
(With input from agencies)
