6.3-magnitude quake hits eastern Indonesia

Illustrative image (Source: dhakatribune.com)

Jakarta (VNA) - A 6.3-magnitude earthquake hit Papua, in eastern Indonesia on June 20 but no tsunami warning was issued.

According to the US Geological Survey, the quake hit about 250 kilometres west of the town of Abepura in Papua province at 12:46 am local time at a depth of 12 kilometres.

It was felt weakly in Abepura, but most people did not notice it.

There were no immediate reports of casualties after the earthquake.

Last year, a 7.5-magnitude quake and a subsequent tsunami in Palu on Sulawesi island killed more than 2,200 with a thousand more declared missing.  On Dec 26, 2004, a 9.1-magnitude earthquake struck Aceh province, causing a tsunami and killing more than 170,000.

Indonesia experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its position on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, where tectonic plates collide.-VNA