6.5 magnitude earthquake strikes eastern Indonesia

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISTANBUL (AA) - A 6.5 magnitude earthquake hit eastern Indonesia late Saturday, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).

The earthquake struck 244 kilometers (151.6 miles) north-northwest of the Tobelo area of Indonesia at 1458GMT, the USGS reported.

The quake was initially measured at magnitude 6.7 before being revised down to 6.5, with a depth of 52 kilometers (32.3 miles).

Tobelo is located in North Maluku province in eastern Indonesia, near the northern tip of Halmahera Island.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or major damage.