A magnitude 6.3 earthquake shook the eastern Indonesian region of Papua on Tuesday evening, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported.

The quake struck at approximately 5:24 p.m. local time (0824 GMT) with its epicenter located about 193 kilometers northwest of the town of Abepura in Papua.

Initially, the USGS had estimated the earthquake’s magnitude at 6.5 before revising it downward to 6.3.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center confirmed that there is no tsunami threat following the quake.

As of now, there have been no immediate reports of casualties or structural damage.

Indonesia, an archipelago situated along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” frequently experiences earthquakes due to the collision of tectonic plates in the region. The country has suffered devastating seismic events in recent years.

Notably, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Sulawesi in January 2021, killing over 100 people and leaving thousands homeless. In 2018, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake and resulting tsunami in Palu, Sulawesi, caused more than 2,200 fatalities.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation in Papua and urge residents to remain vigilant. (ILKHA)