6.5 quake rocks southern Indonesia: USGS

JAKARTA: A strong 6.5 earthquake rocked Indonesia’s main island of Java late Friday evening, the US Geological Survey said, shaking buildings in the capital Jakarta.

The tremor was measured at a depth of 91 kilometres (56 miles) and struck less than a kilometre (mile) east-southeast of the coastal town of Cipatujah, USGS said.

The earthquake was felt in the capital Jakarta, about 300 kilometres (190 miles) from the epicentre, as well as several other towns on Java.

There was no immediate indication of a tsunami and authorities said there had been no casualties reported so far.

National disaster mitigation agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said there were reports of homes damaged in the city of Tasikmalaya, some 50 kilometres (30 miles) from the epicentre.

“We are still evaluating the impact of the quake and will give an update later,” Nugroho said in a statement.

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Jakarta resident Web Warouw was on the 18th floor of a building in the capital when the quake struck.

“Suddenly, we felt dizzy, but constantly… We then realized it was a quake and immediately ran downstairs,” the 50-year-old told AFP.

People in the coastal city of Cilacap evacuated as a precaution fearing a tsunami, although no alert had been issued for the area.

Indonesia experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its position on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, where tectonic plates collide.

An earthquake struck the country’s western Aceh province in December 2016, killing more than 100 people, injuring many more and leaving tens of thousands homeless.