Powerful quake jolts Maluku

Powerful quake jolts Maluku

AMBON, Maluku: An earthquake registering 6.0 on the Richter
scale jolted Maluku Tuesday, an official at the meteorology
office in Jakarta said.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

The epicenter of the quake, which struck at 2:41 a.m., was
located some 20 kilometers (13 miles) south of the Maluku capital
of Ambon, and 36 kilometers below the seabed, said Suharjono.

"There are no reports of damage, and there doesn't seem to be
any damage in town," said Captain Hasbollah of the Ambon military
headquarters.

Suharjono said the tremble was only capable of causing "light
damage" given its magnitude and distance from Ambon.

Antara reported Ambon residents felt the jolt for some five
minutes, and when the aftershocks occurred at about 8.30 a.m.,
New Zealand Ambassador Tim Groser was diving with 59 other
tourists in Pintu Kota, Latuhalat village, Nusa Niwe.

As of Tuesday afternoon, 125 aftershocks had occurred. (swe)