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A series of powerful earthquakes on Saturday killed at least three people in eastern Indonesia, which also brought down electricity cables poles, buildings and caused damage to the residents ran out of their houses in panic, reported the autoridades.

The main earthquake with magnitude 7.6 occurred at 2:43 a.m. local time (1943 GMT) about 135 kilometers from Manokwari, Papua, and at a depth of 35 kilometers, said the United States Geological Survey. In this telluric movement was followed by another of magnitude 7.5.

Three bodies have been recovered, said Hengky TEWU, director of a hospital, The Associated Press. Among the victims would have a girl of 10 years.

"His head was crushed, and our ambulances are going to pick up two more corpses," said TEWU. Other 19 patients were treated for fractures, cuts and other injuries.

The authorities were looking for more people were probably trapped between the remains of a hotel that collapsed.

The authorities reported that several electric cables fell, many buildings were damaged and most flights to Manokwari, the regional capital, have been canceled.


At least three floors of the Hotel Mutiara collapsed in the regional capital Manokwari, said Ina, a nurse at a hospital in the Navy, who had treated five patients for injuries and shock. Most of the injured was transferred to another hospital, added the source.

The Meteorological and Seismological Agency of Indonesia issued a tsunami warning, which was canceled an hour later then determined that the epicenter was on land.


The initial shock was followed by a series of strong aftershocks, including one of magnitude 7.5, the agency said.

"We could not get any information on casualties or damage, but because the epicenter was on land, the potential exists that has caused significant damage," said Rahmat Priyono, a supervisor of the National Seismological Center.


Papua is located about 2955 km (1,830 miles) east of the capital in less developed part of the territory of the nation.

Was lost electric flow, and people left their homes in the dark, fearing a tsunami, said Hasim Rumatiga, a local health official.


Indonesia is in the "ring of fire" in the Pacific and is prone to seismic activity. A powerful earthquake with regard to Indonesia in 2004 caused a tsunami that killed some 230,000 people in Asia, more than half in Sumatra.