Strong Quake Rocks North Maluku

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - An earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale rocked South Halmahera, North Maluku province, on Wednesday night but there was no immediate report of casualties or material damage.

The epicenter of the quake which struck at 07.50 p.m. was in the sea 144 km southwest of South Halmahera at a depth of 69 km, the head of the data and information center at the National Natural Disaster Mitigation Board (BNPB) Sutopo Nugroho said on Wednesday night.

"We hope the local people will remain  calm and not  panick because the quake did not cause a tsunami," he said.

He said the temblor which lasted for a few seconds was not strongly felt by local people.

The quake did not disturb local residents' activities, he said.

After all, the BNPB would continuously coordinate with the North Maluku District Natural Disaster Mitigation Body (BPBD) to anticipate eventualities.

"Coordination is being made to anticipate the worst scenario. BNPB calls on BPBD in North Maluku to remain on standby," he said.

Indonesia sits on the "Pacific Ring of Fire" where the meeting of continental plates causes high volcanic and seismic activity.

North Maluku province lies at the meeting point of the country's two main chains of volcanoes.(T007)