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JAKARTA - A powerful 6.6-magnitude quake destroyed more than 500 homes on a remote island chain in eastern Indonesia early Thursday, but only five people were injured, officials said.
The quake struck Sumbawa island in the West Nusa Tenggara chain at 6:41am (2241 GMT Wednesday), at a depth of 10 kilometres, the meteorology office said.
Health ministry official Rustam Pakaya said 508 homes had been destroyed and 827 damaged. He said five people had been lightly injured.
Local officials said many people had already gone to work when the quake struck, and those who were still at home quickly fled outside at the first tremor.
Pekat district chief Abdurahman said three villages were hard hit and that tents had been set up outside collapsed houses, providing shelter to thousands of residents.
The US Geological Survey said it had registered a 5.7-magnitude quake on Sumbawa.
The Indonesian archipelago sits on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, where continental plates meet, causing seismic and volcanic activity.
- AFP/yb/ir
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