JAKARTA, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Tremors at scales between II to III MMI (Modified Mercalli Intensity) were apparently felt in the Indonesia's northernmost regencies in North Sulawesi province while the 6.6-magnitude earthquake struck southern Philippines' island earlier in the day.
"The tremors were felt in Tahuna and Melounge in Sangihe and Talaud regencies respectively at scales between II to III MMI that felt like convoy of trucks that passing by," Rahmat Triyono, head of Earthquake and Tsunami section of the Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) said on Tuesday.
No significant damage has been reported so far from the two regencies related to the earthquake which initially was detected at 6.8-magnitude, he added.
Aftershocks after the strong earthquake were reported to have occurred five times with the largest 5.4-magnitude, he added.
The earthquake in the Philippines was a shallow one, prompted by activities of local fault lines with strike-slip mechanism, Rahmat said. Learning from such a model of earthquake, Rahmat said that it has no potentiality for a tsunami.
However, he advised locals in Indonesia's affected regencies to stay alert, taking precautions on buildings possibly affected by the tremors. "People have to make sure that the construction remains stable before entering the buildings and houses," he said.
The earthquake in the Philippines' Mindanao island occurred at 8:40 a.m. local time in coordinate location of 6.84 degree north latitude and 125.22 degree east longitude at a depth of 15 km.
The Philippines authorities said the earthquake has killed at least two and injured over 50 others. The shaking caused by the strong earthquake lasted up to a minute in some areas, damaging homes, multi-story buildings and schools, reports said.
