Ambon Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) spokesman Benny Sipolo said the epicenter of the earthquake was located 6.57 degrees southern latitude and 130.14 degrees eastern longitude at a depth of 10 kilometers under the sea level, 203 kilometers northwest of Saumlaki.
Benny said that based on coordination with MTB district government officials, there was no immediate report of a tsunami, material damage, or casualties in the affected area.
"We intensively monitor every development in Saumlaki because the area is prone to earthquakes," Benny said.
Earlier on May 31, 2011, Saumlaki was also jolted by a 5.0- magnitude earthquake with its epicenter located 426 kilometers southeast of Ambon at a depth of 201 kilometers in the sea, but it was not strong enough to trigger a tsunami.
Friday`s earthquake was the latest in a series of quakes that affected Saumlaki after another one measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale rocked the area on May 22 this year.
Indonesia sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" where the meeting of continental plates causes high volcanic and seismic activity.
On Tuesday, June 7, a moderate earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale also jolted Gunung Sitoli in North Sumatra.
The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported that the epicenter of the earthquake was located 115 kilometers southwest of Gunungsitolo 1.13 degrees northern latitude and 96.57 degrees eastern longitude at a depth of 28 kilometers under the sea level.
The BMKG said the epicenter of the earthquake with no potential of triggering a tsunami was also located 151 kilometers southeast of Sinabang, 186 kilometers southwest of Singkilbaru, and 145 kilometers southeast of Tapaktuan in Aceh.
On Monday, June 6, a 3.9-magnitude earthquake also shook part of Banjarnegara district in Central Java following another temblor measuring 3.7 on the Richter scale a day earlier. (O001/A/H-NG )
(T.SYS/A/O001/F001)
(ANTARA)
Editor: Ella Syafputri
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
