Strong Earthquake Jolts Indonesia’s Central Papua, Damaging Buildings but No Casualties Reported

A strong earthquake struck Indonesia’s Central Papua province early Friday, rattling residents from their sleep and damaging several buildings, though no casualties have been reported.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake, with a magnitude of 6.1, hit at a depth of 10 kilometres (6 miles), with the epicentre located about 28 kilometres (17 miles) south of Nabire town.

Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) reported a slightly stronger magnitude of 6.5 at a depth of 24 kilometres, revising down from an initial 6.6 reading.

Abdul Muhari, spokesman for the national disaster mitigation agency, said the tremor damaged public facilities, including broken glass at an airport, collapsed ceilings in a regent’s office, a damaged bridge, and disrupted power and telecommunication networks.

“The earthquake struck at around 3 a.m. I was sleeping soundly but it was getting bigger, so I ran outside with other family members,” Cicilia Mamman, a 37-year-old resident, told AFP.

BMKG official Daryono said on X that at least 50 aftershocks had been recorded by 7:30 a.m. Jakarta time, the strongest measuring 5.1.

Indonesia, home to more than 270 million people, is one of the most earthquake-prone nations in the world. The vast archipelago sits along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a seismically active arc where multiple tectonic plates meet, making it vulnerable to frequent tremors and volcanic eruptions.