A local geological agency official says a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake has struck eastern Indonesia. A tsunami warning was immediately issued and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center says a destructive regional tsunami is possible. The official, Fauzi, said the underwater quake hit off Sulawesi island. He did not have any immediate reports about damage or injuries.
The U.S. Geological Survey said Monday the quake struck 13 miles (21 kilometers) beneath the sea and was centered 54 miles (135 kilometers) from Gorantalo, a coastal town on Sulawesi.
Indonesia is prone to seismic upheaval due to its location on the so-called Pacific "Ring of Fire," an arc of volcanos and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin.