Moderate Quake Hits Banda Sea

Bandarlampung, Lampung (Antara) - An earthquake measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale hit the Banda Sea in Maluku province on Friday night, according to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG). The epicenter of the quake which struck at 21.31 western Indonesia time was located 117 km southwest of Maluku Tenggara Barat district or 441 km southeast of the provincial capital Ambon at a depth of 29 km, head of the Kotabumi geophysics station in Lampung province Yarman said. The quake did not have the potential to cause a tsunami, according to the agency. An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.4 is considered moderate and capable of causing considerable damage. (*) Reporting by Budisantoso Budiman