Ambon Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) spokesman Benny Sipolo said the epicenter of the earthquake was located 7.63 degrees southern latitude and 128.46 degrees eastern longitude at a depth of 147 km, or some 320 km northwest of Saumlaki.
Benny confirmed that the earthquake did not have the potential to trigger a tsunami, fatality, or material damage.
The Southeast Maluku district is prone to tectonic earthquake that has rocked the area three times this week.
Two days ago on Thursday, November 17, Saumlaki was also jolted by a 5.0-magnitude earthquake with its epicenter located at 6.35 degrees southern latitude and 129.92 degrees eastern longitude at a depth of 172 km, or 237 km northwest of the town.
Earlier on Monday, Nov 14, a tectonic earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale jolted Southeast Maluku District town of Tual at 8.14 Eastern Indonesia Standard Time (WIT).
Benny said he epicenter of the temblor was located at 5.84 degrees southern latitude and 130.96 degrees eastern longitude at a depth of 140 km, some 199 km southwest of Tual.
But he added that so far there was not earthquake with a potential of creating tsunami in Maluku.
According to him, areas in Southeast Maluku, Ambon island, Seram and Buru islands are prone to tectonic earthquake because they lie at
the confluence of three major plates namely the Pacific, Indo Australia, and Eurasia. (*)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
