The Jakarta Post, August 31, 2006
No tsunami from Maluku quake
AMBON, Maluku: An earthquake that hit southeast Maluku late Tuesday night did not
trigger a tsunami, an official at Ambon's Meteorology and Geophysical Agency said
Wednesday.
The agency's chief, Sipollo Benny, said the quake, which hit at 10:38 p.m., measured
5.4 on the Richter scale. He said the epicenter was located at a depth of 33
kilometers below the sea, 144 kilometers southwest of Tual, the capital of Southeast
Maluku regency.
Several television stations had reported the quake measured 6.4 on the Richter scale
and could trigger a tsunami.
The reports caused many coastal residents on Kei Besar island flee their homes
Tuesday night.
"We fled because the TV stations were saying a tsunami was coming," a resident,
Albert Manubun, told The Jakarta Post by phone Wednesday.
He said residents also ran from their homes because they were afraid of being hit by
falling debris from the temblor. "As far as I know, there were no casualties or property
damage from the quake," he said. -- JP
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