6.4 magnitude earthquake strikes Bali, no tsunami threat: Indonesian meteorological agency

SINGAPORE — A 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck the Indonesian island of Bali at about 6.10am (7.10am, Singapore time) on Wednesday (March 22), according to the Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics (BKMG).

The epicentre of the quake was about 23km from the city's capital of Denpasar and 118km deep, showed BKMG data. The BKMG said the quake would not cause a tsunami because the epicentre was so deep..

According to reports, tourists and residents on the island felt a strong shake lasting some 20 seconds. Witnesses told the Associated Press that many residents and tourists ran out of their homes and hotels toward higher ground, but the situation returned to normal after they received text messages saying the quake had no potential to trigger a tsunami.

A Singaporean, who lives and works in Bali with her husband, told TODAY she immediately ran out of her home after feeling the shakes.

"I was awake but lying in bed while my husband just walked into the shower to prepare for work... The floor and ceiling glass doors shook a lot and the water in the pool was moving too but no damage was done," she added.

The 35-year-old who gave her name as Ms Tang said the tremors stopped "after two strong waves" and she later went to check in with her neighbours who also got out of their homes.

"If the shocks had continued, we would probably have evacuated to the main road or a larger open space," she said.

Indonesia is prone to seismic upheaval due to its location on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire. There were no immediate reports of casualties. On its website, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said there was "a low likelihood of casualties and damage".

The USGS also estimated the earthquake's magnitude at 5.5 on the Richter scale. Estimations of earthquakes' magnitudes tend to differ from centre to centre, due to varying factors in its determination. Figures are produced by automated systems, and the intensity, depth and epicentre are yet to be finalised.