Just a headline so far, but CNN and MSNBC are reporting back-to-back quakes off the coast of Papua, Indonesia. First estimates are magnitude 7.0 on the richter scale. A tsunami watch has been issued.
I will update this diary as more information comes in.
First update at 12:10AM EDT:
From MSNBC.com:
Two earthquakes, the first with a magnitude of 6.4, followed by a 7.0 shaker struck eastern Indonesia Wednesday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Please add information in the comments and I will update the diary as needed.
Second update at 12:15AM EDT:
From CNN.com:
Two powerful earthquakes struck near the coast of Papau, Indonesia, on Wednesday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
A tsunami watch was issued by the Indonesian Meteorological Agency. "The tsunami generated will likely be a small one," according to the head of the agency Fauzi.
The 6.4 magnitude quake quake struck at 12:06 p.m. local time. Ten minutes later, a more powerful 7.0 magnitude quake rattled the same region, according to the USGS. The epicenters of the two earthquakes were less than 25 miles from each other.
No damage or injuries were immediately reported, according to Priyadi Kardono, with the Indonesian National Disaster Management Agency.
Third update at 12:20AM EDT:
CNN.com is now reporting three quakes.
Fourth update at 12:30AM EDT:
OMG, a fourth quake has now been reported. This is very, very weird. Here's is the synopsis from MSNBC.com:
The first magnitude 6.4 quake was followed by a 7.0 shaker. An hour later, a 5.1 magnitude temblor hit, followed 20 minutes later by a 6.2 rocker.
Update at 1AM EDT:
Thanks all, especially to brother and budding geologists. It is getting late here and the news does not appear alarming, so I am going to call it a night. Feel free to keep updating in the comments, of course.