A series of powerful earthquakes off the northern coast of West Papua, Indonesia, early today killed four people, injured several others and flattened buildings, officials and local television said.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) said a magnitude 7.6 quake occurred some 150 kilometres northeast of Manokwari in the Indonesian half of the island of New Guinea, at a depth of 35 kilometres.
An official at Indonesia's meteorology agency said there were several quakes in the area during the night.
Local media reported that the health, social, public works and transport ministers flew to the affected area, to take medicine, food, tents and cash for victims, and to inspect the local airport following a report that it had been damaged.
Manokwari, with a population of about 161,000, is in a remote, sparsely-populated part of Papua which attracts tourists thanks to its diving sites, wildlife including birds of paradise, and spectacular scenery. Predominantly Christian Papua, which occupies the western half of New Guinea island, has fewer than three million inhabitants out of Indonesia's total population of 226 million.
The quake triggered a small tsunami that hit the Japanese coast but there was no damage, Japan's Meteorological Agency said. The Indonesian authorities also issued a tsunami warning for Papua, but lifted it shortly afterwards.
Indonesia is located in an area of intense seismic activity known as the "Pacific Ring of Fire" and frequently experiences quakes and tsunami warnings.