A strong undersea earthquake struck off eastern Indonesia on Thursday, causing people to flee their homes in panic and run to higher ground, officials said. The temblor briefly triggered a tsunami warning.There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage as a result of the quake, officials said.
Indonesian scientists gave the quake a preliminary magnitude of 6.5, but later downgraded it to 5.5. The United States Geological Survey initially estimated the quake was 5.5. Such discrepancies sometimes occur in the immediate aftermath of a quake.
"The earthquake shook everything for about 30 seconds, causing people to run from offices and buildings," said Abdul Wahab Usman, a government official on Sumbawa, the island closest to the epicenter.
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