Undersea quake hits Indonesia

A tsunami warning was issued in Indonesia, after an undersea earthquake hit the north-province of North Maluku.

The 6.6-strength quake struck around 200 kilometers north of the city of Ternate, though no damage or casualties have been reported.

Fearful of a reprise of the 2004 tsunami - 130,000 people in Indonesia were killed in December of that year when an undersea earthquake created a massive tidal wave - government officials issued a warning, though this was later revoked.

George Rajaloa, a resident of Ternate, described the tremor to the Associated Press.

"We felt a strong tremor for almost a minute, people ran in panic from buildings," he said.

"Children are crying and their mothers are screaming, but there is no damage in my area."

The earthquake occurred at a depth of 44.6 kilometers under the Maluku Sea at 13:40 local time (05:40 GMT).

Tectonic activity is common in the region, which is part of the Pacific 'Ring of Fire'.