Jayapura (ANTARA) - A 6.3 magnitude earthquake which occurred on Thursday (June 20) at around 00.24 local time in Sarmi, Papua province has damaged a number of houses in Tor Atas sub-district.

Officials are awaiting more detailed reports about the damage, Head of the Papua Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) Robert Welliam Manderi told Antara here on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Sarmi Police Chief Police Commissioner Paul Izak Sakoli said a report mentioned damage to homes in Iswari village in Tor Atas sub-district, at around 18.00 at local time, but the report had not been confirmed.

The Police Chief said he had not received news of any injured residents. "We are still waiting for a report, considering that access to the village is quite difficult to and telecommunication facilities are broken as the single sideband tower was struck by lightning," he said.

Translator: Evarukdijati/Eliswan Azly
Editor: Bambang Purwanto
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