Indonesia’s Tanimbar Islands rattled after 6.7-magnitude quake; no damage reported

A 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck off Indonesia’s remote Tanimbar Islands on Monday, but authorities and local media said there were no immediate reports of injuries or structural damage.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said the under-sea tremor hit at 14:49 local time, with its epicentre about 167 km (103 miles) south-east of Tual in Maluku province at a depth of roughly 65 km. Germany’s GEOFON network initially put the magnitude at 7.0 before revising it downward.

Indonesia’s meteorology agency (BMKG) reported no threat of a tsunami, while provincial officials told broadcasters that power and communications remained intact. The quake was felt as far away as Darwin in northern Australia, where more than 400 residents lodged reports of light to moderate shaking.

Indonesia sits on the seismically active Pacific 'Ring of Fire' and experiences more than 7,000 quakes each year.

USGS data show the archipelago has suffered more than 150 earthquakes of magnitude 7 or higher since 1900, including the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean event.

Officials said emergency teams would continue monitoring in case of aftershocks, but by late afternoon there had been no calls for assistance and airports and seaports were operating normally.

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