Quake damages houses in Maluku

Quake damages houses in Maluku

JAKARTA: The earthquake and aftershocks which have rocked Obi Island since Monday have damaged houses and other buildings in several villages in Ternate regency, an official said yesterday.

A staff member of the local meteorology and geophysics office in Ternate, Haryo Paudji, told The Jakarta Post by telephone that there were no casualties because most villagers were out of their houses when the quake struck.

"The damage was lighter than that caused by the tremor which jolted the island last October," he said.

Antara reported yesterday that the initial quake, which registered at 6.1 on the Richter scale early Monday, and the one measuring 5.5 on the same scale which followed that same evening, caused extensive damage in at least two villages.

The report said the quakes damaged 70 houses in Galala and Pasir Putih villages. The quakes also damaged an elementary school and destroyed a bridge.

Poor communications links with the island have hindered reports on the extent of the damage caused. Haryo said aftershocks still continued, but with lesser frequency and intensity. (rms)