Earthquakes hit eastern Indonesia

Moderate earthquakes Sunday hit Manado, the provincial capital of North Sulawesi and Ternate, the provincial capital of North Maluku. The tremors panicked residents in the two eastern Indonesian cities, but there is no immediate report of property damage.

Earthquake measuring 5.2 in Richter Scale hit Ternate, at 2:32 a.m. local time on Sunday, shocking residents, who were still in their beds. Antara news agency reported that many ofresidents rushed out from their houses.

Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG), said the epicenter of the quake was in Maluku Sea, some 121 kilometers west of Ternate.

Meanwhile, another quake measuring 5.8 in Richter Scale hit Manado at 1:45 a.m. on Sunday. The tremor also sent residents out of their houses. They feared possible tsunami and more quakes.

"I thought their would be more quakes. Therefore, we were seeking saver place," said Micheal, resident of Sario district, in Manado. Residents went home after they got information that there would be no more quake.

Indonesia is located on a vulnerable quake hit zone that call " the Pacific Ring of Fire" where continental plates meet causing frequent seismic and volcanic activity.

Source: Xinhua