7.3-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Indonesia, Triggers Tsunami Warning

Jakarta: An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 on the Richter scale struck Indonesia on Tuesday, the US Geological Survey said. The monitors warned of the hazardous tsunami wave possibility.

According to the USGS, the quake struck around 100 kilometres north of the town of Maumere at a depth of 18.5 kilometres (11 miles) in the Flores Sea at 0320 GMT, reported news agency AFP.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said, “hazardous waves are possible for coasts located within 1,000 km (600 miles) of the quake epicentre”.

“Recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards such as tsunamis and landslides that might have contributed to losses,” the USGS said.

Indonesia witnessed a string of deadly quakes, of which the most devastating was the 2004 9.1-magnitude tremor that struck off the coast of Sumatra. It triggered a tsunami that eventually killed 220,000 in the region, including about 170,000 in Indonesia alone.

The Boxing Day disaster is recorded as one of the deadliest natural disasters in history.

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