Fresh quake hits Kendari, Luwuk Banggai islands

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): An earthquake jolted the Southeast capital of Kendari in the early hours of Monday morning, but the local meteorology and geophysics agency ruled out any connection with the ongoing tremors that have subsequently devastated neighboring Peleng Island in Central Sulawesi.

No fatalities were reported in the quake, but a few buildings suffered minor damages.

Chief of the agency Sunaryo said the temblor in Kendari measured 5.6 on the Richter scale.

It took place around 4 a.m. local time, to the surprise of residents, many of whom were performing dawn prayers.

Two aftershocks that occurred later caused people to flee their homes.

According to Sunaryo, the earthquake's epicenter was located at Wowoni Strait, about 30 kilometers southeast of Kendari.

"The temblor in Kendari and the one in Peleng, however, are not related. Kendari and the waters off Southeast Sulawesi lie in the meeting point between the Indo-Australia and the Euro-Asia tectonic plates, an area which is prone to earthquakes," Sunaryo explained.

The quake also left cracks on the third floor of the Southeast Sulawesi governor's office in Kendari, he said.

"We hope there are no casualties and are awaiting reports from remote areas which also experienced the temblor," he said.

More aftershocks have been felt in the last two days on Peleng Island in Luwuk Banggai district, where a strong quake and a tsunami killed at least 45 people, injured more than 100 and left 30,000 homeless on May 4.

The latest tremor at dawn Monday was measured at 5.2 on the Richter scale, causing panic among thousands of refugees sheltered in several camps.

A house reportedly collapsed in Bangkep regency, but witnesses said it was already severely damaged after the previous quake.

No less than 237 school buildings and thousands of houses were destroyed in the earthquake in Luwuk Banggai, with total losses reaching Rp 250 billion.

Visiting Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare and Poverty Eradication Basri Hasanuddin said on Sunday in a meeting with local legislators that the government plans to declare the earthquake a national disaster. (27/edt)