Tectonic quake hits N. Maluku

TERNATE, North Maluku: A tectonic earthquake measuring 5.6 on the Richter Scale rocked Ternate and Halmahera in North Maluku on Sunday but there were no immediate reports available on damage or fatalities.

Antara quoted the head of Ternate Meteorological and Geophysics Agency Bambang on Monday as saying that the quake centered on the district of Ibu island or some 96 kilometers north east of Ternate at a depth of 33 kilometers.

The Sunday earthquake was recorded as the ninth tremor to shake the province after the latest occurrence on May 3 registering 5.9 on the Richter Scale.

"Actually every day there is an earthquake here but most can only be monitored through a seismograph," Bambang said.

Compared to other areas in the eastern Indonesia, the Maluku and North Maluku waters are more prone to earthquakes. (emf)