Quake shakes Indonesia's West Papua area

JAKARTA, Jan. 7 (UPI) -- A strong earthquake rattled Indonesia's West Papua province Wednesday, the latest in a series of tremors striking the region, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

The 5.4-magnitude quake came just days after a powerful seismic event struck the provincial capital of Manokwari, leveling buildings and killing one person, the Indonesian news agency Antara reported.

The quake erupted in Indonesia's Halmahera region, about 70 miles north of Ternate and 170 miles east of Manado, USGS said.

There were no early reports of injuries or damage, Antara said.

Smaller quakes were felt off Kupang in East Nusa Tenggara province and Ternate in North Maluku province, Indonesia's seismological agency reported.

Officials said hundreds of government and private buildings were damaged by the Sunday quakes, as well as seven bridges, two of which collapsed, Antara reported.

Meanwhile, Antara reported officials canceled tsunami alerts and people began returning to their homes from from camps on higher ground.