6.7- magnitude quake strikes off Indonesia’s Java

June 13, 2013 – INDONESIA – An earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale has struck off Indonesia’s most densely-populated island of Java, but there have been no immediate reports of casualties or damage. According to the US Geological Survey, the quake took place at 11:47 pm (1647 GMT) on Thursday and was centered some 170 kilometers (106 miles) east of Flying Fish Cove, on Australia’s Christmas Island. The US Geological Survey also said that the quake was 11 kilometers (7 miles) deep. The tremor has reportedly forced panicked residents and hotel guests to flee into the streets in Kawalu, West Java province. Following the tremor, the Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency issued a statement saying that “There are no immediate reports of damage or casualties, but we know the quake was felt in several parts of Java…There is no potential for a tsunami.” On April 20, a 6.4 -magnitude earthquake jolted Indonesia’s Maluku, but caused no casualties or material damage. On April 6, an earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale struck eastern Indonesia’s mountainous West Papua province. Indonesia is vulnerable to earthquakes since it is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region known for its seismic and volcanic activity caused by friction between shifting tectonic plates. Last year, a 6.4-magnitude quake rocked the west coast of Sumatra Island, killing at least one person. An 8.7-magnitude earthquake also hit off the city of Banda Aceh in Sumatra Island in May 2012, triggering regional tsunami alerts. A strong quake off the shores of Indonesia triggered a tsunami that killed 230,000 people in 13 countries around the Indian Ocean in 2004. Most of the deaths were in the northern Indonesian province of Aceh. –Press TV