Strong earthquake hits eastern Indonesia
Several people killed, many homes wrecked by strong Indonesian earthquake
Jakarta: Indonesia has been rattled by a series of powerful earthquakes which police say have killed at least three people, triggered landslides and demolished dozens of homes.
The 7.0 magnitude quake was centered beneath the ocean floor off the northern coast of Papua province. It was accompanied by strong aftershocks, the biggest measuring 6.4.
More than 20 houses collapsed in Serui, sparking fires in at least seven places, said police spokesman, Lt. Col. Wachjono. Two bodies were pulled from beneath the rubble.
The official Antara news agency reported that earlier in the day, a magnitude 5.3 quake on Sulawesi island nearly 2,000 kilometres to the west triggered landslides that badly damaged at least 50 homes, killing one person.
