6.0-magnitude quake strikes off eastern Indonesia: USGS

JAKARTA - A strong 6.0-magnitude earthquake jolted parts of eastern Indonesia on Friday, the US Geological Survey reported, but local officials said there was no risk of a tsunami.

The quake struck at 4:43 pm local time (0843 GMT), 70 kilometres (43 miles) south-southeast of Namela in the Maluku chain of islands at a depth of 54 kilometres, the USGS said.

"The quake's epicentre was in the sea and was mildly felt in the cities of Ambon, Namlea and Namrole," Tri Handayani, an official from Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency, told AFP, adding that there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

She said there was no risk of a tsunami.

Indonesia sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" where tectonic plates collide, causing frequent seismic and volcanic activity.