JAKARTA: A 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Indonesian islands on Friday, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS), but no tsunami alert was issued. The undersea quake, at a depth of 38 kilometres, struck the Molucca Sea between Sulawesi and the Maluku chain of islands.

“The quake was felt strongly for five seconds, causing people to run from their homes,” the National Disaster Management Ag­ ency spokesman said. The quake was initially measured at 6.9-magnitude and 48 kilometres in depth but was later revised by the USGS to 6.5 in strength and 10kms shallower than earlier reported.

Published in Dawn, November 22th, 2014