Jakarta - A moderate 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia's North Maluku province on Wednesday, seismologists said, but there were no reports of casualties or damage.

The deep undersea quake hit at 1.29pm (04H29 GMT), 97 kilometres (60 miles) northwest of the provincial capital of Ternate at a depth of 50 kilometres under the seabed, the Indonesian meteorological agency said.

It was felt in Ternate and Maluku, but there were no immediate reports of damage, an official at the agency told AFP.

The quake had no tsunami potential.

The Indonesian archipelago sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where continental plates meet and cause frequent seismic and volcanic activity.
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