Earthquake jolts Palu

PALU, Central Sulawesi: An earthquake measuring 4 on the Richter scale jolted Palu, the capital of Central Sulawesi, on Thursday, but no human casualties were reported.

The one-minute tremor however shocked residents, many of whom rushed out of their houses.

Local seismologists said they were still analyzing data on the earthquake to trace its epicenter.

At least six strong quakes have rocked Central Sulawesi province in the past seven years. The most recent one, which occurred on May 4, 2000, measured 6.5 on the Richter scale.

The tremor, whose epicenter was located in Peleng Strait, claimed 50 lives and caused serious damage to 17,000 buildings in the Banggai Archipelago and Banggai Regency. --Antara