A massive 7.3 earthquake has hit off the remote Maluku Islands in eastern Indonesia, damaging homes and sending panicked residents running into the streets and fleeing to temporary shelters.
The quake comes hours after Western Australia felt its strongest ever earthquake, which shook residents from Broome to as far south as Perth.
The Indonesian quake struck about 165 kilometers south-southwest of the town of Ternate in North Maluku province at 6:28pm local time, at a depth of 10 kilometers, according to the US Geological Survey.
The quake hit off remote islands in eastern Indonesia. Picture: USGS
The quake hit off remote islands in eastern Indonesia. Picture: USGSSource: Supplied
“The earthquake was quite strong, sending residents to flee outside, they are panicking and many are now waiting on the roadside,” local disaster mitigation official Mansur, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, told AFP.
Officials were assessing the situation but there were no immediate reports of casualties, Mansur said.
No tsunami warning is in place. The province was also hit by a 6.9-magnitude tremor last week but no extensive damage was reported.
The Australian quake registered at 6.6 magnitudes off the Kimberley coast in the Indian Ocean about 3.39pm AEST.
@EarthquakesGA
Region: Offshore North-West WA, Indian Ocean
Mag: 6.5
UTC: 2019-07-14 05:39:22
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