6.4 magnitude quake hits Indonesia

Posted: 24 April 2010 1621 hrs

JAKARTA - A 6.4-magnitude quake hit Indonesia's North Maluku province Saturday, the local Meteorological and Geophysics agency said, but there were no immediate reports of damage and no tsunami alert was issued.

The quake struck at a depth of 30 kilometres (18 miles) 155 kilometres (95 miles) southeast of the town of Labuha at 14:41 pm (0741 GMT), according to the agency.

"The quake occurred in the sea. No tsunami warning was issued," the agency's earthquake analyst Subagiyo, who goes by one name, said.

"The quake was felt in nearby islands, such as in Ternate," he said.

Labuha meteorological agency station chief Djoko Sumardiono said there were no reports of damage in the area.

"We only felt mild tremors. There was no panic here," he said.

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