Strong 6.6-magnitude quake jolts Indonesia, no potential for tsunami

Jakarta, Nov 22 : A strong 6.6-magnitude earthquake jolted Indonesias eastern province of North Maluku on Wednesday, but it did not have the potential to trigger a tsunami, the countrys meteorology agency said.

The earthquake occurred at 9.48 a.m.with its epicentre situated at 68 km northwest of West Halmahera Regency in the sea with a depth of 109 km, Xinhua news quoted the meteorology agency as saying.

The tremors were also felt in a nearby province of North Sulawesi, it said.

The meteorology agency did not issue a warning for a tsunami as the tremors would not trigger giant waves.

Indonesia, an archipelagic nation, has been frequently stricken by earthquakes for its location on a vulnerable quake-jolted area called "the Pacific Ring of Fire".