18.08 5.1 Magnitude Strikes off Indonesias North Maluku Province
BALI, August 18 (RIA Novosti) - A 5.1-magnitude quake was registered early on Sunday off Indonesias North Maluku province, the US Geological Service reported.
According to the service, the quakes epicenter was located 130 kilometers (81 miles) to the northeast from the town of Tobelo in the North Maluku province at the depth of 225 kilometers (140 miles).
There were no reports on casualties or any damages to the infrastructure. Meteorologists did not issue a tsunami warning to the worlds sixth largest island.
Indonesia is notorious for its high volcanic and seismic activity, as it sits on the so-called Pacific "Ring of Fire", where tectonic plates meet.
In 2004, a 9.1-magnitude earthquake struck the eastern coast of Sumatra, causing a tsunami that hit the coasts of Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia. It is unclear exactly how many perished in that natural disaster, but the closest estimates are at 230,000 victims.
