The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) stated in its website that the quake`s epicenter was located at 0.85 degrees southern latitude and 119.78 degrees northern longitude.
The epicenter of the quake which did not have the potential of triggering a tsunami lay at a depth of 23 kilometers below sea level, 9 kilometers northwest of Palu city.
Palu residents, especially those in high-rise buildings, were thrown into a panic by the quake which lasted five seconds.
Visitors on the second floor of Tatura Palu Mall rushed down the stairs when the earthquake happened.
Ratna, one of the visitors, said she was scared and ran out of the building to save herself.
"Fortunately the temblor did not last long, so I resumed my shopping," she said.
A security officer tried to calm down the panicked guests but a few minutes after the quake, many of them reentered the building to continue what they had been doing before the temblor. There were no reports of damage or casualties due to the quake. (*)
Editor: Ruslan Burhani
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
