Another Powerful Earthquake strikes Indonesia
Pastor Dale Morgan
updated 1:37 a.m. EDT, Thu August 9, 2007
*Another Powerful Earthquake strikes Indonesia*
* Story Highlights
* Powerful earthquake strikes Indonesian island of Java
* It struck near area dotted with oil rigs
* U.S. Geological Survey puts magnitude at 7.4
* Panic but no reports of damage or casualties
JAKARTA, Indonesia (CNN) -- A powerful earthquake shook buildings and
caused panic on the densely-populated Indonesian island of Java, but
there have been no reports of injuries and no tsunami alert.
Shaken residents stand outside an apartment building in Kunigan, South
Jakarta
The quake, measured at magnitude 7.5 by the U.S. Geological Survey,
struck shortly after midnight in a part of the sea dotted with oil rig
platforms, Financial Times journalist John Aglionby told CNN International.
He described feeling the quake in his house in a suburb of the
Indonesian capital.
"I was just getting into bed on the second floor of my house. You rarely
feel these things in Jakarta so I knew something was wrong immediately,"
he told CNN. Video Watch Aglionby describe what he felt »
According to CNN's Kathy Quiano, the shaking caused many in the capital
to flee their homes. "We felt the earthquake in Jakarta, it was pretty
strong and went on for at least a minute," Quiano said.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no threat of a
tsunami, because the quake was too deep.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake was centered 100
kilometers (62 miles) east of Jakarta, at a depth of 289 kilometers (180
miles). It occurred about 32 kilometers (20 miles) from shore.
"Earthquakes of 7.5 and over happen approximately 18 times a year," said
John Bellini of the USGS, "and in the area around Indonesia that varies.
You might see one or two a year, or you might not see any."
About 15 minutes after the quake struck, Quiano drove through Jakarta,
and said she saw no signs of damage. She said residents -- especially
those living in high-rises, ran from their homes when they felt the
quake, but returned fairly quickly.
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"The earthquake went on for at least a minute here. It was pretty strong
and scary," Quiano said. "People are shaken, that's for certain."
And Aglionby said there were still concerns for the many oil rigs
exploiting the resource rich waters off the north coast of Java.