Powerful earthquake rocks Java, no casualties

SHAKEN: The quake, measured at magnitude 7.5 richter scale, struck shortly after midnight.

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Jakarta (Indonesia): A powerful earthquake rocked the densely-populated Indonesian island of Java on Wednesday violently shaking tall buildings and sending panicked residents into the streets. However, there have been no reports of injuries.

The quake, measured at magnitude 7.5 by the US Geological Survey, struck shortly after midnight in a part of the sea dotted with oilrig platforms.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no threat of a tsunami because the quake was too deep.

According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the quake was centered 100 kilometers east of Jakarta, at a depth of 289 kilometers. It occurred about 32 kilometers from the shore.

El-Shinta radio reported that the quake could be felt from Sumatra island in the west to Bali to the east.

"Earthquakes of 7.5 and over happen approximately 18 times a year," John Bellini of the USGS told CNN, "and in the area around Indonesia that varies. You might see one or two a year, or you might not see any."

Residents, especially those living in high-rises, ran from their homes when they felt the tremors, but returned to their apartments fairly quickly.

The December 26, 2004, earthquake that triggered the tsunami off the coast of Sumatra and killed more than 1,31,000 in Indonesia's Ache province was only 18 miles deep, according to the USGS.

Indonesia, the world's largest archipelago, is prone to seismic upheaval due to its location on the so-called Pacific ‘Ring of Fire,’ an arc of volcanos and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin.

(With inputs from agencies)