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Quake jolts

central Indonesia

HONG KONG: An intense undersea earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 5.0 was recorded in central Indonesia, the Hong Kong Observatory said on Sunday. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

The tremor was recorded at 11:33 p.m. (1533 GMT) Saturday and was centered off the northwest coast of the island of Sulawesi at a point about 230 kilometers (143 miles) north of Palu, the observatory said.

There were no reports of tsunami, undersea waves triggered by volcanic activity or earthquakes.

A quake with a magnitude of 5.0 can cause considerable damage if it is centered in a heavily populated area.ÑAP