Powerful earthquake strikes off northern Indonesia

JAKARTA, Indonesia – A powerful earthquake has struck off the coast of northern Indonesia, but officials say a tsunami is unlikely.

There are no immediate reports of injuries or serious damage.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the magnitude-7.0 quake hit late Wednesday about 150 kilometers (93 miles) northwest of Kota Ternate. It said it was centered 65 kilometers (40 miles) below the seabed. The U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center said based on historical records the quake was not sufficient to trigger a tsunami.

Indonesia is prone to earthquakes due to its location on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," an arc of volcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific Basin. In 2004, a massive earthquake off Sumatra triggered a tsunami that killed 230,000 people in a dozen countries.