7.0-Magnitude Quake Hits Eastern Indonesia, Tsunami Warning Lifted

Daryono, the head of the agency's earthquake and tsunami center who like many Indonesians goes by one name, said the tremor was followed by 10 aftershocks, the largest with a magnitude of 5.3.

He tweeted the quake was "triggered by (a) rock deformation in the Maluku Sea Plate".

The initial quake was felt as far away as the city of Gorontalo in northern Sulawesi, where it shook houses, and the provincial capital, Manado.

Also read: Strong Quake Rattles Islands, Damages Homes in Indonesia’s Maluku

A powerful quake hit deep under the ocean in eastern Indonesia earlier this month, rattling nearby islands and damaging homes and schools.

The 7.6-magnitude quake caused roofs and walls to collapse in homes on the worst-hit Tanimbar Islands in the Maluku archipelago.

Indonesia experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its position on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", where tectonic plates collide.

A 5.6-magnitude quake hit West Java province on Indonesia's main island of Java on November 21, killing 602 people.

Most of the victims were killed when buildings collapsed or in landslides triggered by the quake.

Source: Agence France-Presse