MAGNITUDE-5.8 EARTHQUAKE HITS KENDARI

Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, Oct. 16 (ANTARA) - An earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale rocked Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, on Friday at 2.33 local time.

The quake's epicenter was located at 3.54 degrees southern latitude, and 123.27 degrees eastern longitude, at a depth of 20 kilometers, and 88 km northeast of Kendari, according to information of the meteorological and and geophysics office.

The temblor was quite strong and forced local people to rush out of their houses in panic.

The earthquake did not have potential to trigger a tsunami. No report of casualty or damage was available yet.

Last Monday (Oct. 12), an earthquake measuring 5.0 on the Ricther scale rocked the Melonguane area in North Sulawesi.

The agency said the epicenter of the earthquake was located at 3.92 degrees northern latitude and 126.67 degrees eastern longitude at a depth of 10 km under the sea level.

It said the epicenter was also located 137 km northeast of Tahuna, 319 km northeast of Bitung, 338 km northeast of Manado in North Sulawesi, and 357 km northwest of Ternate in North Maluku.

Last Oct. 8, North Sulawesi was also hit by an earthquake that registered 6.1 on the Richter scale in Tahuna waters. Earlier, on September 30, North Sulawesi and environs were also jolted by a 5.8 magnitude earthquake.

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.