6.5 magnitude quake hits Indonesia island, no casualties reported

Local residents and a govt official say the strong earthquake knocked out telephone, radio communications and roads

JAKARTA: A strong earthquake near an eastern Indonesian island knocked out telephone, radio communications and roads late Friday, but there were no reported casualties, local residents and a government official said on Saturday.

The US Geological Survey said a 6.5 magnitude earthquake at a depth of 30km was reported about 3kms from Andekantor, a town on Sumba island in East Nusa Tenggara province.

"Not yet," Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman for the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, told Reuters on Saturday when asked whether there were any casualties.

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Roads had suffered the most damage local residents said. Nugroho said his agency would continue to monitor the situation. No tsunami warning was issued.