A large 6.5 magnitude earthquake was detected eight kilometres (4.9 miles) to the southeast of the settlement of Kairatu, located in the south of Seram island, at 23:46 GMT on Wednesday. The earthquake was registered at a depth of 29.9 kilometres. Previous media reports indicated that 20 people were killed and 100 were wounded due to the quake.
At Least 30 People Killed, 156 Injured as Powerful Earthquake Hit Indonesia - Reports
© REUTERS / Nunu Husien
About 25,000 people were forced to flee their homes for shelters, the Xinhua news agency reported.
Emergency relief works continue with a quick response task force assisting the administration of Maluku province in relief efforts, the media added.