Strong earthquake hits eastern Indonesia; no tsunami threat

JAKARTA, Indonesia  — A strong earthquake has struck off eastern Indonesia, causing panic among residents, but there are no reports of injuries or damage, and authorities say there is no threat of a tsunami.

The U.S. Geological Survey says Wednesday's magnitude-6.3 quake was centered 28 kilometers (17 miles) northeast of the Alor island chain in East Nusatenggara province. It had a depth of 14 kilometers (9 miles).

Indonesia's Meteorology and Geophysics Agency says the quake did not have the potential to trigger a tsunami and that there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

The quake caused panic among residents in Alor, the closest town to the epicenter, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency.

Indonesia is prone to earthquakes due to its location on the Pacific "Ring of Fire."