Magnitude 7.3 earthquake strikes off the coast of Indonesia

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By Masrour Jamal El Din and Ann Claire Stapleton | CNN

A 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck off the eastern coast of Indonesia on Tuesday, according to the US Geological Survey, prompting people in nearby towns to take to the streets and look for higher ground.

The earthquake struck 112 km north of Momiri on the Indonesian island of Flores. The US Geological Survey said it struck at a depth of 18.5 kilometers (11 miles) in the Flores Sea at 10:20 a.m. local time (10:20 p.m. ET).

Based on initial earthquake parameters, the US-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said, “Hazardous tsunamis are possible for coasts within 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) from the epicenter.”

The head of the Indonesian Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) Dwikorita Karnawati later confirmed that the tsunami warning had ended.

She said 15 aftershocks have been reported so far, the strongest of which is 5.6.

Doikorita said those living on the north coast should move higher if they feel a strong tremor lasting more than 10 seconds.

Romanos Wauga, vice president of Sika Regency, the area closest to the epicenter, told CNN he felt four or five large tremors that sent people in the city of Momiri running out of their homes. He said people who live near coastal areas have fled to higher ground.

Romanos, who is driving around town to check on the situation there, said no buildings or homes have been noticeably damaged so far.

Momiri is the capital of Sica and the second largest city on Flores with a population of about 90,000.

Indonesia lies on the “Ring of Fire,” a strip around the Pacific Ocean that causes frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity. One of the most seismically active regions on the planet, it stretches from Japan and Indonesia on one side of the Pacific Ocean all the way to California and South America on the other.

In December 1992, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake and tsunami struck the island of Flores, killing more than 2,000 people.

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