Magnitude-5.1 quake rattles Maluku

A magnitude-5.1 earthquake shook Saumlaki, the capital district of Maluku's West Maluku Tenggara regency, at about 5 a.m. on Friday, local authorities report.

Ambon geophysics agency chief Benny Sipolo said the earthquake had not triggered a tsunami.

Benny said the epicenter of the quake was 203 kilometers northwest of Saumlaki, at a depth of 10 kilometers below sea level.

No casualties were reported, he said.

“We've been monitoring Saumlaki intensively. It is one of the most quake-prone areas in Maluku, and there are earthquakes here almost every day, with an average magnitude of between 2 and 3 on the Richter scale,” he said, as quoted by Antara.