Jakarta (ANTARA News) - An earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale hit northeast of Morotai Island in North Maluku Province before dawn on Saturday, but it did not trigger a tsunami.

The epicenter of the earthquake that struck at 3:51 a.m. local time was located 128 kilometers northeast of the island at a depth of 10 kilometers, according to the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).

The tremor was the latest in a series of earthquakes that hit the area.

The BMKG had announced earlier that earthquakes measuring 5.3 and 5.0 respectively on the Richter scale jolted the area on Wednesday (Jan 16) and Sunday (Jan 13).

The earthquakes were shallow ones caused by subduction of the Philippine sea plate, the agency stated.

Reporting by Bayu Prasetyo, Suharto

Reporter: Suharto
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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