Tectonic earthquake jolts North Sulawesi

Antara ,  Manado   |  Wed, 05/14/2008 4:57 PM  |  National

A tectonic earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale jolted the province of North Sulawesi at 6.44 am local time Wednesday. So far there has been no report of casualties or damage, local Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG) spokesman Mudji said.

Mudji said the epicenter of the tremor was located 86 km southeast of Bitung at a depth of 45 km below sea level.

"There is no need to panic or worry about the earthquake because it is does not have the potential to create a tsunami or widespread devastation," Mudji said.

Several people, however, fled when the tremor occurred.

According to Reuters, nearly 10,000 people were killed by the earthquake in southwest China on Monday.

Last Friday, the northeastern area of Bitung in North Sulawesi was hit by a tectonic earthquake measuring 5.0 on the Richter scale.

BMG said the epicenter of the quake was located 265 km northeast of Bitung, 281 km northeast of Manado, North Sulawesi, at a depth of 32 km below sea level.

There has been no further reports of casualties or damages.(**)

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