A magnitude 6.6 earthquake has struck near Teluknaga in Indonesia’s north-eastern Java region, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). The earthquake hit at about 04:23 local time on Friday, at a depth of approximately 359km, the USGS said.
There were no immediate reports of casualties or significant damage.
The deep earthquake comes about a month after a much more destructive tremor struck eastern Indonesia, killing at least 100 people and damaging tens of thousands of homes.
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake had hit hit Indonesia’s East Nusa Tenggara province on 15 August, followed by thousands of aftershocks. More than 73,000 homes were damaged and about 180,000 people were forced to evacuate, according to disaster authorities.
The earthquake struck the island of Flores shortly before 05:00 local time, at a depth of about 15km, Indonesia’s meteorology and geophysics agency said.
Shallower earthquakes tend to cause greater damage at the surface.
A tsunami warning was issued after the August earthquake but was lifted about three hours later after no significant rise in sea levels was detected.
Videos from the port in Maumere showed chunks of concrete falling from a terminal building as people waited to board an inter-island ferry. Some people were thrown into the sea when a gangway collapsed.
East Nusa Tenggara Governor Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena said some victims were killed in their sleep when buildings collapsed.
Arnold Welianto, a resident of Talibura village in Sikka, said the shaking woke him. “I was startled awake and immediately went to my child’s room,” he told the BBC. He said many residents had already fled towards the hills. “Some other residents were standing along the roadside because the sea had also receded,” he said. “The water remained low for quite some time, so everyone panicked and ran.”
Authorities said about 2,000 people evacuated or relocated themselves after the tsunami warning was issued.
Manggarai was among the worst-hit areas, according to Indonesia’s disaster agency. More than 150 homes were reported to have been severely damaged, along with a number of public facilities.
The agency recorded 24 deaths in Manggarai, 17 in East Manggarai, three in Sikka and at least one each in Ngada, Ende and West Manggarai.
