Earthquake jolts Sulawesi

MANADO, North Sulawesi: An earthquake measuring 5.1 on the open-ended Richter scale shook the eastern Indonesian province of North Sulawesi on Friday, sending residents into the streets in panic but causing only minor damage to homes and buildings, Antara reported.

The temblor was felt in the provincial capital of Manado and nearby cities in North Sulawesi. The epicenter was in the sea, some 15 kilometers north of Manado and 100 km beneath the sea bed, said Suko Prayitno of the meteorology and geophysics office in Manado.

Indonesia lies within the so-called Pacific Rim "Ring of Fire," an area marked by volcanoes and earthquakes.

On Aug. 13 an earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale struck the islands in nearby Maluku province, but there were no reports of damage or injuries.

On Aug. 1 a quake registering 6.0 on the Richter scale rocked Central Sulawesi province. No damage or casualties were reported. (swe)