Strong Earthquake Strikes Indonesian Island

The Associated Press

JAKARTA, Indonesia - A strong earthquake shook the island of Sumba in southeastern Indonesia on Monday, the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency said.

There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties from the magnitude-5.8 quake, which struck at 7:01 p.m., the agency said.

It said the quake was centered beneath the Indian Ocean, about 50 miles southwest of Sumba Island in East Nusatenggara province. The island is about 875 miles southeast of the capital, Jakarta.

An earthquake of 5.8 is capable of causing considerable damage if centered near populated areas.

Indonesia, the world's largest archipelago nation, is prone to frequent seismic upheavals because of its location on the so-called Pacific "Ring of Fire."