A strong 6.1-magnitude earthquake rattled Indonesia’s easternmost Papua region early Friday, causing damage in the coastal town of Nabire and forcing residents to flee their homes, AP reported.
While no casualties have been reported, officials confirmed that at least two houses and the town’s main bridge collapsed in Nabire, Central Papua.
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Suharyanto, head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, said in a video statement that a government office, a church, and the local airport also suffered minor damage. “Overall, the situation is safe and under control,” he assured, adding that emergency crews were already on the ground.
Residents fled homes and moved toward higher ground when the quake hit, fearing a tsunami. Telecommunication networks in Nabire and nearby towns were disrupted, complicating early response efforts, according to agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari.
The US Geological Survey reported that the earthquake struck 28 kilometres south of Nabire at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres. Indonesia’s own Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency ruled out any tsunami threat, since the quake was centred inland.
The quake revived memories of 2004, when Nabire was hit by two devastating tremors — one in February that killed 30 people and another in November, claiming 32 lives and destroying hundreds of homes.
Indonesia, home to more than 280 million people, sits squarely on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a seismically active belt where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are frequent.
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Powerful 6.1 Quake Hits Papua(Representational/File Photo) 
