Another Earthquake in the Pacific Basin

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Indonesia: Tsunami alert after earthquake south of Java
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A tsunami alert has been issued in Indonesia after a powerful earthquake 300km (186 miles) south of the island of Java just after 0300 (2000 GMT).

The 7.1 magnitude tremor occurred south-west of Cilacap at a depth of 10km, Indonesia's meteorology and geophysics agency said.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

The US Pacific tsunami warning centre reported a "very small possibility of a local tsunami".

Nearly an hour after the quake hit there were still no signs of a wave, the Associated Press news agency reports.

The technical head of the meteorology and geophysics agency said the shaking from the quake had been felt in the Pangandaran and Cilacap districts of central Java.

"This quake roused people from their sleep," said Suharjono, who like many Indonesians uses only one name.

"We have not received any reports of damage or casualties so far."

Thousands of people poured out of their homes and ran to high ground, witnesses told an Indonesian radio station.

Indonesia is located on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", an arc of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin.