Earthquake Strikes Papua, Sparks Infrastructure Damage

A magnitude-6.1 earthquake hit Papua, Indonesia, causing damage to buildings and infrastructure in Nabire, but resulting in no casualties. Key structures like houses and a bridge were affected. The quake prompted people to seek higher ground, though it did not trigger a tsunami threat.

Early Friday, a magnitude-6.1 earthquake struck Indonesia's easternmost region of Papua, impacting the coastal town of Nabire with structural damage but no immediate casualties reported.

The tremor caused the collapse of at least two houses and the main bridge in Nabire, alongside minor damage to a government office, a church, and the local airport, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency chief, Suharyanto.

Panic ensued, with residents fleeing to higher ground as communication networks were disrupted. Despite the rapid response from authorities, this event recalls the town's history of deadly quakes in 2004.

(With inputs from agencies.)