Bandung, W Java (ANTARA News) - An earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale hit Garut district, West Java, early Thursday, according to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).

The epicenter of the quake which struck at 01.53 a.m. local time was in the sea 66 kilometers southwest of Garut at a depth of 19 kilometers, acting chief of the Garut District Disaster Mitigation Board (BMKG) Dadi Djakaria said on Thursday, quoting a BMKG report.

"The quake did not have the potential to cause a tsunami," he said.

The quake occurred when most of local residents were asleep, he pointed out.

Dadi said he had instructed BPBD volunteers and heads of southern coastal sub-districts in Garut to monitor the impact of the quake.

No fatalities or injuries were reported in the natural disaster.

Many residents felt the quake which lasted for a few seconds.

"I felt it for nearly 10 seconds," a local resident, Neni said.

An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.1 on the Richter scale is considered moderate and capable of causing damage.

Garut is one of the districts in Indonesia prone to earthquake.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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