Indonesia lifted a tsunami alert today following a magnitude 7.3 undersea earthquake that struck off Flores Island, triggering panic in a region prone to fatal quakes but apparently causing no major damage or casualties.
A spokesperson from Civil Defence's National Emergency Management Agency confirmed there was no threat to New Zealand from the event.
According to the US Geological Survey, the quake hit at a depth of 18.5km under the sea, and was located 112km north of the town of Maumere, the second-largest on the island in East Nusa Tenggara province with a population of 85,000.
After an initial tsunami alert, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii, and later Indonesia's meteorological agency, lifted the warning hours after the quake.
National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Abdul Muhari said residents in East Flores district felt the earthquake strongly. Footage showed people running from buildings that shook from the impact.