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Magnitude 5.4 earthquake strikes Indonesia's Maluku Sea

Magnitude 5.4 earthquake strikes Indonesia's Maluku Sea

KUALA LUMPUR: An earthquake measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale struck Indonesia's southern Maluku Sea this morning.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) said the quake occurred at a depth of 114km, about 177km northwest of West Papua.
The tremor comes just days after a powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula triggered tsunami warnings across several Pacific nations.
Waves of up to four metres were recorded in parts of Kamchatka, prompting evacuations in Russia, Japan, Hawaii and along the US West Coast.
Most warnings have since been lifted, with no major damage reported.
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INTERACTIVE: Kota Marudu tops Malaysia heat alert list
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INTERACTIVE: Kota Marudu tops Malaysia heat alert list

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