A strong earthquake measuring 6.1 on the richter scale hit Indonesia's Papua Barat province on Friday. As per latest reports, there were no casualties.


With an epicenter of 26 km under Manokwari town, the earthquake rocked the Eastern part of Indonesia. No tsunami warning was issued, Xinhua news agency quoted an meteorology official as saying.

According to Indonesia's national disaster management agency spokesperson Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, no major damage or casualty was reported. "The tremors only triggered panic, people were rushing outside their houses. The jolts were strongly felt for five minutes," added.

The earthquake comes days after a tsunami struck the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra on December 22, shortly after the Anak Krakatau volcano erupted in the Sunda Strait. At least 430 people were killed after the volcanic eruption triggered a massive tsunami. Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area of great seismic and volcanic activity.

(With inputs from IANS)