An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.6 has rocked eastern Indonesia, US seismologists say.
At least four people have been killed and dozens injured after a series of powerful earthquakes hit eastern Indonesia, officials say.
The tremor struck south-west of Manokwari, West Papua province, at 0443 on Sunday (1943 GMT), according to the US Geological Survey.
The strongest tremor, with a magnitude of 7.6, struck north of the city of Manokwari in West Papua province at 0443 on Sunday (1943 GMT).
The AFP news agency reported that a 10-year-old girl was killed and dozens of people were injured after the tremors.
It was followed by another big quake and a string of aftershocks.
The Indonesian archipelago lies over several continental plates where seismic activity happens regularly.
Witnesses said the tremors triggered mass panic in Manokwari, where several buildings were flattened.
Tsunami alert withdrawn
A tsunami alert was issued by Indonesian authorities following the earthquakes, but withdrawn within an hour.
A tsunami alert was issued by Indonesian authorities following the earthquakes, but withdrawn within an hour.
Hasim Rumatiga, a local health official, told Associated Press electricity went off and residents ran to higher ground.
Assessment teams and medical supplies are expected to arrive in the remote region, some 2,955km (1,830 miles) east of Indonesia's capital Jakarta, within the next 24 hours.
A policeman said without power it was difficult to check for damage in Manokwari, the seaside capital of the province, AFP news agency reported.
The first quake struck on land about 95 miles (150km) north of Manokwari at a depth of 22 miles (35km), the US Geological Agency said. It was followed by another tremor and aftershocks.
He said the police and military had been helping people get to higher ground.
The BBC's Lucy Williamson said eyewitnesses described crowds of people running terrified through the streets of the region's main city amid fears of a tsunami.
The BBC's Lucy Williamson said eyewitnesses described crowds of people in Manokwari running terrified through the streets as the town was hit by a string of powerful aftershocks.
Among the four victims of the quakes was a 10-year-old girl who was crushed by a falling wall, officials said.
An official with the aid organisation World Vision said ten buildings had been totally destroyed, including several hotels and the house of a government official.
At least 37 people were injured and were being treated in hospitals.
The official also said dozens of people were being treated for serious injuries. Assessment teams and medical supplies are expected to arrive in the next 24 hours.
An official with the World Vision aid organisation said 10 buildings had been totally destroyed, including several hotels and the house of a government official.
Hotel collapse
Officials said three people, who had been staying at the Mutiara hotel in Manokwari, were pulled alive from the rubble and taken to hospital.
The initial tremor was followed by aftershocks, including one with a magnitude of 7.5, local seismologists said.
Electricity was also cut off in the city with a population of some 160,000 people.
The tremors also caused a hotel in Indonesia's West Papua province to collapse.
Japan's Meteorological Agency told Reuters news agency the earthquakes also triggered a small tsunami which hit the Japanese coast, but did not cause any damage.
Officials said three people, who had been staying at the Mutiara hotel in the city of Manokwari, were pulled alive from the rubble and taken to hospital.
Japan's Meteorological Agency told Reuters news agency the earthquake also triggered a small tsunami which hit the Japanese coast, but did not cause any damage.
A huge quake off western Indonesia on 26 December 2004 caused a massive tsunami that killed around 230,000 people around the region.
A huge quake off western Indonesia on 26 December 2004 caused a massive tsunami that killed around 230,000 people around the region.
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