Flores quake causes little damage

JAKARTA (JP): No casualties and little damage have been reported following Monday's strong earthquake, which jolted some islands of eastern Indonesia.

East Nusa Tenggara Governor Herman Musakabe told the state television TVRI yesterday that his office had contacted all regencies in the province, but received no reports of casualties.

He said that most people in the province were "used to" earthquakes. "They must have taken some precautionary measures. The people have been trained and know what to do should earthquakes hit," he said.

Head of the provincial meteorology and geophysics agency Josevinhe Tris told The Jakarta Post that the first earthquake, measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale, struck Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara, at 7.22 p.m. local time. The tremors were felt in a number of cities in a vast surrounding areas, including Central Sulawesi and Bali.

The quake, which was followed yesterday by a smaller aftershock, was centered some 165 kilometers northwest of Larantuka, East Flores, at a depth of 579 kilometers below sea level.

Antara reported that a tectonic quake with a magnitude of 4.2 on the Richter scale hit East Nusa Tenggara yesterday at 6.07 a.m. local time.

The quakes slightly damaged the East Nusa Tenggara governor's office. "We're working as usual. There's no severe damage, only some cracks in the wall," Herman said.

Panic was reported in some areas, however. Residents of Maumere, Sika regency, fled from their houses screaming.

An inn employee, Lamber Pureklolong, and Ramli, an airport official, said that people stayed awake all night following the quake, fearing that more quakes would strike.

In December 1992, a powerful earthquake and tidal waves hit Maumere, killing up to 2,500 people and destroying 25,000 houses, 113 school buildings and 120 places of worship. (yac/31)