According to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre, the quake hit 91 kilometres (57 miles) south-southeast of Blitar, with an epicentre located at a depth of 96 kilometres (over 59 miles). Initially, a magnitude of 6.8 was reported, but the number was later revised.
"The agency has recorded six dead and one person who sustained serious injuries", National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Raditya Jati said, adding that several villages in East Java had been evacuated.
No tsunami alert has been issued by the authorities.