UPDATE - 6.4 magnitude earthquake strikes eastern Indonesia, no tsunami warning issued

UPDATES WITH MORE INFORMATION, REVISES MAGNITUDE TO 6.4, CHANGE HEADLINE

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISTANBUL (AA) - A 6.4 magnitude earthquake hit eastern Indonesia late Saturday, but with no casualties reported as yet or tsunami warning issued, according to the US Geological Survey.

The earthquake struck 244 kilometers (151.6 miles) north-northwest of the country’s Tobelo area at 1458GMT, the US Geological Survey reported.

The quake was initially measured at magnitude 6.7 before being revised down to 6.5, and then to 6.4 with a depth of 52 km (32.3 mi).

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

There were no immediate reports of casualties or major damage.

Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency said the quake posed no tsunami threat but warned residents to stay alert for possible aftershocks, according to state-run news agency Antara.