1st LD: Strong quake hits E. Indonesia, no tsunami warning issued

A powerful undersea quake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale jolted eastern parts of Indonesia on Wednesday, but no tsunami warning was issued, the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency said.

The quake struck at 14:40 Jakarta time with the epicenter at 125 km northwest Halmahera of North Maluku province and with the depth at 10 km under the sea bed, an official of the agency told Xinhua via telephone.

The intensity of the quake was felt at 2 to 3 MMI (Modified Mercally Intensity) at Manado, the provincial capital of nearby South Sulawesi and Galela town of the province, the official said.

Indonesia is prone to quake as it lies on a vulnerable quake- hit zone dubbed "the Pacific Ring of Fire." Endi