A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0 rocked western part
of Java Island of Indonesia early Thursday, Meteorology and
Geophysics Agency said in Jakarta.
The US Geological Survey reported in its Web site that the
quake's magnitude was 7.4.
The quake struck just after midnight at 00:04 Jakarta time
(17:04 GMT Wednesday) with epicenter at 75 kilometers northwest
Indramayu of West Java province and at a depth of 286 kilometers
under sea bed, an official of the agency said.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the quake could not
generate a tsunami in the Indian Ocean as it was located too deep
inside the earth.
The epicenter was about 100 kilometers east of Indonesia's
capital Jakarta. It could be felt by the people in the capital.
Many came out of their houses or apartment buildings in hurry in
the city after the quake struck.
Local residents
take shelter on a street in Jakarta, Indonesia, Aug. 9, 2007. A
powerful earthquake hit Indonesia's Java Island early
Thursday.
"I am scared that the building could break down and hit us," Ana
who lives in an apartment building in the capital of Jakarta told
Xinhua.
However there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage
from the quake.
Indonesia is laid on a vulnerable quake hit-zone so called the
Pacific Ring of Fire, where two continental plates meet that cause
frequent seismic and volcanic movements.
Over 170,000 people were killed in the December 2004 tsunami
triggered by a strong quake in Indonesia.
(Xinhua News Agency August 9, 2007)
