The 6-degree earthquake caused a collapse in Indonesia, at least three people died

The victims died when buildings collapsed during an earthquake at a depth of 10km this morning off the island of Java and Bali.

"The earthquake happened early this morning when people were sleeping so they had no time to evacuate," said Indonesian National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, according to AFP.

Figures from the US Geological Survey show a magnitude of 6 degrees and an epicenter at a depth of 10km, about 40km from the Bali Sea to the east of Java Island and are felt in Denpasar on the resort island of Bali.

"The earthquake did not activate the tsunami , " the head of Indonesia's geographic agency said, while Nugroho also confirmed the damage caused by the earthquake did not occur on a large scale.

Earthquakes occurred off Indonesia's Java and Bali islands on October 11 morning.(Photo: USGS).

At least three people in Sumenep, East Java died because the buildings collapsed. Residents in Surabaya, the capital of East Java province, are about 200km from the town near the Situbondo epicenter, and also feel a shock."I feel shaken for about 10 seconds. People are sleeping and awakened," witness Tonny Akbar Mahendro said.

"The earthquake is quite strong and prolonged , " said Davy, a woman who was sheltering in the Bali hotel parking lot.

Annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank (WB) will take place in Bali this week. Organizers announced the earthquake "did not cause significant damage or any disruption to the meeting".

Some guests at the hotel in Nusa Dua, south of Bali's international airport, quickly fled when the tremors shook the building."The earthquake was very big. I immediately woke up and took the baby out of the house. All my neighbors were running," recalled Ni Komang Sudiani.

The latest earthquake occurred after the earthquake 7.5 activation in Central Sulawesi province, Indonesia. Authorities said more than 2,000 people were killed, about 5,000 were still missing, 82,000 were evacuated and 67,000 houses were destroyed or damaged.

Indonesia is one of the most disaster prone countries in the world due to its location, where tectonic plates collide and earthquakes frequently occur. In July and August, a series of earthquakes struck, eastern Indonesia caused more than 550 deaths.