Major earthquake rocks Nabire

Major earthquake rocks Nabire

JAKARTA (JP): A series of earthquakes, the strongest measuring 6 on the Richter scale, struck Nabire yesterday, in the Irian Jaya regency of Paniai, but there is no immediate word on casualties.

Head of the local meteorological and geophysical office, Sutiono, said in Jayapura that the strongest tremor struck at 8:53 a.m. local time.

Its epicenter was estimated at 48 kilometers underground in an area about 73 kilometers south of Nabire, Sutiono said.

The tremors that started at 3 a.m. also jolted the neighboring Fak-Fak regency where several buildings were reported to have been damaged.

The Meteorological and Geophysical Agency in Jakarta, which also recorded the tremor, said that the earthquake struck a jungle region in the province.

The regent of Paniai, Yoesoef Adipatah, told Antara in Nabire that his staff in remote subdistricts reported that the earthquake caused no injuries or material losses.

He called on the residents to be wary of aftershocks.

Secretary to the Fak-Fak regent, Nyoman Arya, said that the quake, which was measured at 6 on the Richter scale, also struck subdistricts bordering Paniai, including Teluk Etna and Teluk Arguni.

It damaged three residents' houses, a police office, a dormitory and a village health center in Teluk Etna.

Nabire and Jayapura, along with Maluku and East and West Nusa Tenggara in the eastern part of the country are prone to earth quakes.

A quake measuring 5.6 on the Richter scale hit Irian Jaya last November, injuring 28 people and damaging houses, office buildings and places of worship. Another quake measuring 6.1 rocked Obi Island in Halmahera, Maluku, last October, but caused no casualties. (rms)