A 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck south of Java, Indonesia, Monday April 4, 2011. Hundreds of residents from the port town fled to a higher ground.
US seismologists estimate the quake of 6.7-magnitude and the epicenter is about 24-kilometers (15-miles) deep in the Indian Ocean and 241-kilometers from the remote Australian territory of Christmas Island, and seismologists said the tremor was felt in the area, but no tsunami warning alert was issued for Australia.
Geoscience Australia seismologist David Jepson told AFP, adding that it was described as a “moderate type quake” of 6.7-magnitude.
The initial estimate is about 10-kilometers underground and 277-kilometers south of the Javanese coast.
The authorities issued tsunami warning after the Indonesian seismologist put the 7.1-magnitude, saying the tremor had the potential cause a devastating wave and asking recipients of its public alert SMS to warn other of the danger.
But later the warning was cancelled.
When the quake struck the seaport in the town of Cilacap, hundreds of residents fled inland to a higher ground by cars, motorbikes, and some people were walking, said the AFP reporter.
When the quake struck residence were panicking shouting “quake! quake! quake!” said the reporter.
The quake roused people from their sleep and the tremor had been felt in Cilacap and Pangandaran districts in Java, said Suharjono, the technical head of Indonesia’s Meteorology and Geophysics Agency.
There is no damage or casualties reported from the incident.
There would be a possible local tsunami, and there is no risk of a widespread destructive wave according to the US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.