Indonesia tsunami alert after quake

A 7.3-magnitude earthquake has struck under the Molucca Sea in eastern Indonesia, triggering a tsunami warning.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said there was a possibility of "hazardous" waves on coasts within a 300km (186 mile) radius of the quake.

It struck at a depth of 46km northwest of Kota Ternate in the Molucca islands, according to the US Geological Survey.

There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

Aside from Indonesia, tsunamis could reach the Philippines, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and parts of Japan and Taiwan, the warning centre said.

The first tsunami waves could arrive within the next six hours, it said, warning that "the initial wave may not be the largest".

Shortly after the first quake, another measuring 6.2 was monitored off the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, the US Geological Survey said.

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