Strong earthquake shook Indonesia

A strong earthquake shook Indonesia's island of Bali today, causing hundreds of panic-stricken people to flee high-rise buildings and 17 injured.

The magnitude 6 earthquake struck Kuta's main tourist district, Bali, according to the US Seismic Survey (USGS). The epicenter is located at a depth of 63.1 km, 130 km south of Denpasar capital of Bali island.

However, according to the Indonesian Meteorological and Geographic Agency, the magnitude of the earthquake reaches 6.8 Richter and the epicenter is only 10 km from the ground, but does not cause tsunamis.

Location of Kuta district (red dot) of Bali island. (Photo: AFP)

The earthquake injured 17 people and hundreds of panicked tourists fled the buildings. Dozens of patients in a hospital were evacuated from the upper floors. Some schools and government agencies suffered slightly. A witness told AFP that after running out of the office building, he returned to find the wall cracked and plastic pieces falling to the floor.

Some other areas also felt the earthquake shaking.

" The earthquake was very fast. Everything shook and the windows were opened and closed. We didn't know what to do, so we ran off to the street, " said Stephanie Fleming, a tourist agent in Seminyak, near Kuta. .

Indonesia is located in the Pacific fire belt, often facing seismic attacks. In October 2010, a strong earthquake accompanied by tsunamis that destroyed the country's Sumatra coast killed at least 300 people.

An Indonesian man looked at the car crushed by a piece of concrete
Falling from the building after the earthquake. (Photo: AP)