Powerful earthquake hits eastern Indonesia

JAKARTA, INDONESIA // A local geological agency official says a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake has struck eastern Indonesia. A tsunami warning was immediately issued. The official, Fauzi, said the underwater quake hit off Sulawesi island. He did not have any immediate reports about damage or injuries. The US Geological Survey said the quake struck 21km beneath the sea and was centred 135km from Gorantalo, a coastal town on Sulawesi.

Indonesia is prone to seismic upheaval due to its location on the so-called Pacific "Ring of Fire", an arc of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin. *AP

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EDITORS NOTE: RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE -- MANDATORY CREDIT

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