Indonesian residents stand in front of the rubbles of their houses destroyed by the earthquake in Ciloa village in Tasikmalaya located in West Java on September 4, 2009. (Romeo Gacad/AFP/Getty Images)
JAKARTA—Indonesia was hit by a strong quake off Java island, in the Sunda Strait, on Friday afternoon, causing buildings to sway in the capital, Jakarta, and sparking panic in some areas as people fled homes and offices.
Indonesia's meteorology agency did not issue a tsunami warning after the quake, and there were no immediate reports of damage.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake had a magnitude of 6.5 and was at a depth of 34.5 miles. The epicentre was 187 km (116 miles) west of the capital Jakarta.
Indonesia is situated in a belt of intense seismic activity known as the "Pacific Ring of Fire".
A powerful quake measuring 7.6 struck off West Sumatra last month, killing more than 1,000 people and destroying hundreds of buildings.
