- This story is breaking down, there will be more to follow.
A powerful earthquake of magnitude 5.7 shook the Halmahera Sea in Indonesia on Monday, according to the German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ).
The earthquake struck at a depth of 6.21 miles, the GFZ said, and took place around 1:30 p.m. local time, about 26 miles off the coast of Obi Island.
According to Indonesia’s meteorological office, BMKG, the 5.7 magnitude earthquake is the fourth to hit the country today alone, and the first earthquake of the day, which was recorded at a magnitude of 5.6, occurred at 10 :24 am local time.
Indonesia is located at the meeting point between the Pacific, Eurasian and Indo-Australian tectonic plates, making it a hotspot for earthquakes.
As a result of the complex interactions between tectonic plates, the country experiences around three earthquakes a day.
A powerful earthquake of magnitude 5.7 shook the Halmahera Sea in Indonesia on Monday (File image of the Halmahera Sea)
Indonesia is located at the meeting point between the Pacific, Eurasian and Indo-Australian tectonic plates, making it a hotspot for earthquakes (Archive image of the Halmahera Sea)
While the structure of the Indonesian archipelago means that these earthquakes often occur at sea and cause little damage, they can be devastating when they hit populated lands.
Last month, a 5.1 magnitude earthquake that hit West Java left two people dead and nearly 160 injured after destroying homes and businesses.
The two who died were children: one died from injuries sustained from falling debris, the other suffered a seizure.
Hundreds of people were forced to evacuate their homes after 784 homes collapsed and more than 5,500 buildings were damaged.
In total, the earthquake caused more than £19 million in damage to the region.
More to follow.
