A strong magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Indonesia’s Papua province on Thursday, sending tremors across nearby areas and startling residents.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the quake hit at a depth of 70 kilometers beneath the surface around 200 kilometers from Abepura City.
The area, home to more than 62,000 people, experienced noticeable shaking, though there were no immediate reports of major damage or injuries from local authorities.
Residents described the ground as rumbling for several seconds, causing panic among communities as they rushed out of homes and workplaces to safety.
Some said they feared another large quake could follow, recalling Indonesia’s history of powerful tremors in the Pacific “Ring of Fire.”
Despite the strength of the quake, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center confirmed that no tsunami threat was detected, providing relief to coastal residents.
Emergency teams remained on alert, monitoring aftershocks and assessing potential structural damage in nearby towns and rural villages.
Indonesia, one of the world’s most earthquake-prone nations, frequently experiences strong seismic activity due to its location on complex tectonic fault lines.
Authorities urged the public to stay vigilant and follow safety updates, as smaller aftershocks could still occur in the coming hours.
As of this writing, power lines and communication systems in most parts of Papua remained stable, and disaster officials continued to gather reports from affected communities.
