Bogor, W Java (ANTARA) - A 5.7-magnitude earthquake rattled West Halmahera District, North Maluku Province, on Wednesday morning but it did not potentially trigger tsunami.

The quake that occurred at around 05:59 a.m. Western Indonesia Time (WIB) was located at the coordinates at 1.53 north latitude and 127.19 east longitude, according to the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).

The quake's epicenter was located around 48 kilometers northwest of West Halmahera District at a depth of 133 kilometers, the agency revealed.

As of Wednesday morning, there were no immediate reports of casualties following the quake.

Earthquakes regularly rock various parts of Indonesia since the country lies on the Circum-Pacific Belt, also known as the Ring of Fire, where several tectonic plates meet and cause frequent volcanic and seismic activities.

Indonesia's deadliest earthquake hit Banda Aceh and several other parts of Aceh Province on December 26, 2004.

The undersea megathrust earthquake that triggered a deadly giant tsunami destroyed several parts of the city in the northernmost tip of Sumatra Island, and reportedly killed some 170,000 residents.

The latest deadly earthquake to have jolted Indonesia was in West Sulawesi Province on January 15, 2021.

The 6.2-magnitude earthquake, ensued by several aftershocks, jolted the districts of Mamuju and Majene, claiming more than 100 lives and destroyed several buildings.

Sulawesi Island has repeatedly borne witness to deadly earthquakes. On September 28, 2018, for instance, a 7.4-magnitude earthquake hit several parts of Central Sulawesi Province.

The strong earthquake that was followed by a tsunami and soil liquefaction in Palu, the capital of Central Sulawesi Province, claimed 2,102 lives, injured 4,612, and rendered 680 others missing.

A total of 68,451 homes incurred serious damage, while 78,994 people were displaced.

The authorities and humanitarian workers decided to bury the large number of rotting corpses in mass graves.

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Reporter: Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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