Thousands of people have fled their homes in north-eastern Indonesia after being warned that a large tsunami triggered by a Japanese earthquake could pound their shores.
But a meteorological official says only a 10—centimetre wave hit the North Maluku islands and caused no known damage or injuries. Fauzi, who uses only one name, says other areas could still be harder hit, and a second, larger tsunami might be on the way.
Alerts were issued along a long stretch of Indonesia’s coastline, triggering widespread panic after today’s massive 8.9—magnitude quake in Japan.
Indonesia was hardest hit by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that claimed more than 230,000 lives.
