Strong quake jolts Flores

FLORES, East Nusa Tenggara: A strong earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale hit the East Nusa Tenggara island of Flores on Tuesday, injuring two people and causing damage to several buildings.

The chief coordinator of the local Meteorology and Geophysics Agency, Hendri Subakti, said the quake's epicenter was located in the Flores sea, about 70 kilometers north of the district town of Reo in Manggarai.

He said the two people that were injured in Reo suffered only minor injuries.

"Preliminary reports out of the Reo area have said several houses and the port were damaged in the quake. It was quite strong in that area," he said.

The quake, which hit at about 10:55 a.m., was also felt in the neighboring regencies of Ngada, Ende and Maumere.

About 2,000 people were killed when an earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale hit the island in December 2000. -- Antara