5.9 and 6.0-magnitude quakes hit off Indonesia — USGS

A map from the US Geological Survey shows the epicenter of a new strong earthquake that hit off Indonesia Tuesday morning, Oct. 2, 2018. The USGS said the quake that measured magnitude 5.9 occurred off Sumba island some 1,600 kilometers south of Sulawesi island which was hit by a destructive temblor and tsunami on Friday. USGS MAP

Two quakes struck in quick succession off the southern coast of Indonesia’s Sumba island on Tuesday morning, the United States Geological Survey said.

A shallow and moderately strong 5.9 quake struck at 2359 GMT, around 40 kilometers (25 miles) off Sumba, an island of some 750,000 people.

It was followed up some 15 minutes later by a stronger 6.0 magnitude quake in the same area at a depth of 30 kilometers.

Sumba lies some 1,600 kilometers to the south of Sulawesi island which was struck by a devastating quake and tsunami on Friday, killing more than 800 people. /cbb