An extreme earthquake, carrying a magnitude of up to 7.3, hit an Indonesian island earlier today. The natural disaster, which is believed to have taken at around 3.20am GMT, is reported to have struck 71 miles north of Maumere.
However, the American-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center is believed to have warned waves could possibly reach coasts “within 1,000kilometres of Indonesia quake centre”.
Maumere is the largest city on the north eastern coast of Flores Island.
While initial reports suggested the magnitude was as high as 7.7, the US Geological Survey have revised the strength of the earthquake down to 7.3.
However, earthquakes which strike even at this magnitude are considered to be both “major” and able to afflict “serious damage”.
JUST IN: Taipei warns China could invade Taiwan by 2025 as Beijing targets ‘reunification’
Tsunami warnings were issued to cover Maluka, east Nusa Tenggara, west Nusa Tenggara and south east and south Sulawesi.
Abdul Muhari, a spokesman from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, warned residents in the area felt the earthquake hit.
He said: “There is no damage information yet.
“But the quick reaction team is working to gather the information.”
READ MORE: Boris on knife-edge: DOZEN Tory MPs line up to oust PM –no confidence letters sent to 1922
However, Indonesia is known to be affected by such natural disasters.
The island nation of 270million people is located on the so-called “Ring of Fire”, placing it on the faultlines of the Pacific and on the arc of volcanoes.
In January, at least 105 people were killed and almost 6,500 were left injured after a 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck the West Sulawesi province.