Jakarta, Aug 2 (AFP/APP):A powerful earthquake struck off the southern coast of Indonesia’s heavily populated Java island Friday, with the country’s disaster agency warning that it could generate a tsunami.
The 6.8 magnitude quake struck offshore at a depth 42 kilometres (26 miles), some 150 kilometres (90 miles) from Labuan, southwest of the capital Jakarta, according to the United States Geological Survey.
Indonesia’s disaster agency initially pegged the quake at magnitude 7.4 and a depth of 10 kilometres, warning it could spark a tsunami.
Residents in Jakarta fled their homes as buildings in the megacity swayed from the force of the quake.
“The chandelier in my apartment was shaking and I just ran from the 19th floor,” 50-year-old Elisa told AFP.
“Everybody else ran too. It was a really strong jolt and I was very
scared.”
At least two people were killed and thousands were forced from their homes after a major 7.3-magnitude earthquake hit the remote Maluku islands in eastern Indonesia this month.
