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According to a report by the Indonesian Meteorology Agency, few quakes with a moderate magnitude of 5.4 have hit the easternmost part of Indonesia on August 19.
An official reported that the tremor occurred at 11.34 a.m. with its epicenter 12km southeast of Nabire town in Papua province and 48km in depth. There were no reports of damage or casualties.
In another report, Aceh province at the northern tip of Sumatra Island felt moderate earthquake of magnitude 5.1 in the Richter scale.
Indonesia is part of a susceptible earthquake zone known as ‘The Pacific Ring of Fire’, where two continental plates meet and cause frequent seismic and volcanic movements. In 2007, the Indonesian island of Sumatra experienced the largest tremor of magnitude 8.4, followed by one of 7.8 and another of 6.4, that caused extensive damage.
