Strong Earthquake Rattles Eastern Indonesia; 6 Killed
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JAKARTA, Indonesia — A strong earthquake rocked eastern Indonesia on Friday, killing at least six people and injuring more than 50.
It was the second quake in Indonesia this week.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake measured a 7.3 magnitude. The Meteorology and Geophysics Agency in Indonesia said it measured 6.8. The epicenter was on Halmahera, a group of islands 1,550 miles east of Jakarta.
The province’s deputy governor, Thaib Armaya, said six people died when houses collapsed on them. He said at least 16 villages were badly damaged and about 200 villagers were evacuated.
Witnesses said the quake triggered tidal waves that washed about half a mile onto shore.
The quake struck at 11:25 a.m., said Rebecca Phipps, spokeswoman for the U.S. agency.
A 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck the same region on Wednesday, she said.
Last December, a 7.5 magnitude earthquake killed at least 2,500 people and destroyed thousands of buildings and houses in the Flores Island region of Indonesia, 950 miles southeast of Jakarta.
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