Strong shallow quake hits Papua, Indonesia

JAKARTA - A shallow under sea quake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale struck off Papua in easternmost Indonesia earlier Friday, damaging buildings but posing no potential for tsunami, the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency said here.

The quake, which the United States Geological Survey reported to be at 6.7 magnitude, struck at 07:31 am Jakarta time (0031 GMT) with epicenter at 142 km southeast Kaimana of Papua and with the depth at 22 km under seabed, an official of the agency named only Subagiyo told Xinhua by phone.

The intensity of the quake was felt at 3 to 4 MMI (Modified Mercalli Intensity) in Ambon, the capital of Maluku province and 3 MMI in Nabire and 2 MMI in Wamena of Papua, he said.

"According to the local meteorology agency, the office building of Dobo region has been seriously damaged, and some other buildings in the area have also been damaged, their windows are broken," said Subagiyo.

The Indonesian Disaster Management and Mitigation Agency also reported that there were some damages after the quake but its officials were conducting assessment.

Indonesia is vulnerable to earthquake as it sits on the quake-hit zone commonly known as the "Pacific Ring of Fire".