More than 100 homes damaged in eastern Indonesia earthquake

JAKARTA, Aug 13 (AFP) - More than 100 homes were damaged when an earthquake struck a remote district in Indonesia's North Maluku province, officials said Wednesday.

"There was a lot of damage," Nugroho, of the Jakarta Meteorology and Geophysics Bureau, told AFP.

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The quake measuring 5.7 on the Richter Scale struck the Wasile area on the east of Halmahera Island at 7:19 am Monday, he said.

Nugroho said there were no reports of injuries but 91 homes were badly damaged and dozens more less seriously damaged.

Abdul Harris, a local official, said the quake affected eight villages which can only be reached by sea. The government has sent 10 tents along with rice, noodles and medical personnel, Harris said.

An aftershock hit the area early Wednesday morning, he said.

Halmahera was the scene of battles between Christian and Muslim forces three years ago when villages were destroyed and residents forced to flee.

The Indonesian archipelago is one of the world's most earthquake-prone regions, sitting on the so-called "Pacific Rim of Fire" noted for its volcanic and seismic activity.

it/sm/nj

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