A tsunami alert has been issued after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck off the northwest of Indonesia's Maluku Islands. The earthquake was measured at 62km deep in the sea.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said hazardouswaves were possible within 186 miles (300km) of the epicenter. It reported notsunami risk for more distant areas.

"Most likely a tsunami won't hit the land, but we still need to be on alert," an official at Indonesia's geophysics agency, told Kompas TV. He said there had been no reports of damage so far.

It may be mentioned here that Indonesia is situated onthe 'Ring of Fire', an area in the basin of the Pacific Ocean which isvulnerable to frequent earthquake and volcanic eruptions.