There was no danger of a widespread destructive tsunami from the quake, which hit shortly before 9 p.m EST, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said, although there was a very small possibility of a local tsunami no more than 100 km from the quake epicentre.

Indonesia's Meteorology and Geophysics earthquake centre put the magnitude of the quake at 7.0 and said its epicentre was 132 km southeast of Labuha in North Mollucas at a depth of 56km. The agency did not issue a tsunami warning.

"The quake was felt in Ambon city but we haven't received any report of damage," said Ali Imron, an official at the agency.

The USGS said the epicentre was more than 160 km north of Ambon in the Molluccas, and the quake's depth was 52 km.

Reuters