An earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter Scale jolted Ternate, North Maluku province, on Friday at about 17:05 local time, but damage and casualty were not reported, according to ANTARA. Alimin, an official at the Meteorology and Geophysics Station in Ternate on Friday afternoon said the epicenter of the quake was in Maluccan Sea about 82 kilometers Northeast of Ternate in a depth of 29 km. However, the quake had no potential to trigger a tsunami, he said, adding his office had yet to receive reports on any damage or victim in the quake which often hit North Maluku in the past few weeks. "The area close to the location of the quake is Sahu subdistrict, West Halmahera district, but so far we had yet to receive report on any damage or victims of the tremor," he said. The quake was felt little bit stronger in Ternate City, so no wonder that many residents rushed out of their houses for fear of the collapse of their homes. But many of them were told to stay calm. In the meantime, information obtained from the natural disaster task force in North Maluku said there was no report on any damage and victims. But the task force continued monitoring the whole area in North Maluku.
