Indonesia earthquake: 200,000 flee to high ground as 7.1 quake triggers tsunami warning
MORE than 200,000 terrified people have fled to higher ground in the city of Ternate fearing a major tsunami after Indonesia was hit by a massive 7.1 magnitude earthquake today.
Indonesia: Map shows area of 7.1 magnitude earthquake
The strong quake struck off the northeastern coast of Indonesia's Sulawesi island on Sunday, prompting authorities to issue a tsunami warning. Indonesia sits on the Ring of Fire where the majority of the world’s earthquakes occur.
The quake caused panic in the city of Ternate, which has a population of 200,000, where people ran to higher ground.
The earthquake struck out at sea at a depth of 10 kilometres, according to Indonesia's geophysics agency.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) put the magnitude at 6.9.
There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
The Ring of Fire is a horseshoe-shaped area around the Pacific Ocean.
More than 450 volcanoes are located along the Ring of Fire and it is where about 90 percent of the world’s earthquakes occur.
In 2004, the Indian Ocean tsunami which was triggered by an earthquake killed 226,000 people in 14 countries, including more than 120,000 in Indonesia.
Today’s earthquake comes after two major quakes hit California this week.
On Friday, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck following a 6.4 magnitude quake on Thursday.