Moderate Quake Hits Waters Off East Java's Southern Coast

Bandarlampung, Lampung (Antara) - An earthquake measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale hit waters off East Java's southern coast on Sunday night, according to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG). The epicenter of the quake which struck at 10.42 p.m. was located 115 km southeast of Malang district, 214 km southeast of the East Java provincial capital Surabaya or 762 km southeast of Jakarta at a depth of 10 km, the head of the Kotabumi geophysics station in Lampung, Yuharman said quoting a BMKG report. The BMKG said the quake did not have the potential to cause a tsunami. There was no immediate report of material damage or casualties. A magnitude 5.4 earthquake is considered moderate and capable of causing considerable damages. Earlier in the day, an earthquake measuring 5.0 on the Richter scale also hit waters southwest of West Sumba district in West Nusa Tenggara province. The quake which struck at 06.49 p.m. was centered 218 km southwest of West Sumba or 1,459 km southeast of Jakarta at a depth of 10 km, the agency said. The BMKG said the quake was also not strong enough to cause a tsunami. (*) Reporting by Budisantoso Budiman