Strong earthquake strikes east of Indonesia’s Bali

By Ainur Rohmah

MALANG, Indonesia

A strong earthquake struck east of Indonesia’s Bali island Thursday afternoon, causing people to run from their homes in panic.

Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, National Disaster Management Agency spokesperson, told Anadolu Agency that no tsunami threat was issued or damage or casualties reported after a magnitude 6.6 tremor hit the remote island of Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara province.

"So far, no damage or casualties have been reported," he said, underlining that communication with local officials in the area – which has limited telecommunication infrastructure – had been lost.

"We will update the development as we get report from the agency there."

He added that Sumba residents felt powerful tremors for 10-15 seconds, with shaking also being experienced in the holiday island of Bali.

The U.S. Geological Survey recorded the earthquake 94 kilometers (58 miles) west of Waingapu, Sumba’s largest town, as having a magnitude of 6.5 and depth of 30.5 kilometers

According to the disaster management agency in Sumbawa island of neighboring West Nusa Tenggara province, residents also felt strong shaking for 10-15 seconds, causing people to run to the streets.

West Sumba regency had also been struck by a magnitude 4.8 earthquake Thursday.

Indonesia lies within the Pacific’s "Ring of Fire," where tectonic plates collide and cause frequent seismic and volcanic activity.

On Dec. 26, 2004, a magnitude 9.1 earthquake struck the eastern coast of Sumatra island, causing a tsunami that killed around 230,000 people as it tore along the coasts of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia and Thailand.