Indonesia hit by 6.1 magnitude earthquake

May 19, 2006

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), a strong magnitude 6.1 earthquake has been reported beneath the Molucca Sea in Indonesia at approximately 10:44 p.m. local time and hit approximately 120 miles off the country's Sulawesi Island.

The quake was recorded at 34 miles beneath the Earth's surface and there are no immediate reports of damage to buildings or injuries.

According to Dailin Wang of the Tsunami Warning Center in Ewa Beach, Hawaii, the quake was not powerful enough and did not require a tsunami warning to be issued.

In January, a magnitude 7.7 quake was reported beneath the Banda Sea 195 k.m. south of Ambon City. No tsunami was reported and no one was injured, but there were reports of some damage to buildings.