The epicenter of the quake which struck at 05.16 p.m. local time was in the sea 114 km northeast of Banggai Islands at a depth of 10 km, according to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).
Spokesman of the Banggai Islands district administration Muhammad Igrawan said he had received no report of casualties or material damage.
However, the district government would continue to monitor affected-areas which are difficult to reach, he said.
The quake caused hundreds of residents to rush outdoors for fear that their houses would collapse, the more so because it lasted for nearly three minutes.
"I and my family also rushed outdoors," he said.
The residents had returned to their respective homes, he said.
Igrawan said he felt the temblor twice. "The first temblor had small magnitude but the second one had strong and longer magnitude," he said.
The BMKG said the quake which was located at 0.77 degree southern latitude and 123.89 degrees eastern longitude did not have the potential to cause a tsunami.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
