Indonesia, Papua New Guinea hit by new earthquakes

The NZDF has transported components of a water purification plant to the Indonesian city of Palu, to help ease the acute shortage of drinking water in areas hardest hit by last month’s earthquake and tsunami. / NZDF

A magnitude 6.0 earthquake has struck just off the coast of Indonesia, killing at least three people and injuring four.

The country is reeling from an earthquake and tsunami last month that killed more than 2000 people.

The latest quake hit about 157km northwest of Bali, at a depth of 10km.

The International Monetary Fund and its sister lending organisation, the World Bank, are holding annual meetings on Bali.

Some tourists and residents ducked outdoors as a precaution but then went back to sleep when there was no tsunami warning.

A strong earthquake has also hit Papua New Guinea and raised the possibility of a tsunami.

The magnitude 7.0 quake struck about 118km east of Kimbe, West New Britain.

Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre oceanographer David Walsh says any tsunami from the earthquake would only affect areas immediately around the epicentre. But scientists don't have any tide gauges close to the where the earthquake happened, so are unable to say at this point whether tsunamis have been generated.

He says areas farther away are unlikely to be affected because of the earthquake isn't "terribly large" and many are shielded by land masses and islands.

It was followed by aftershocks of magnitude 5.7 and 5.9. Just over an hour later, a magnitude 6.3 quake hit farther northeast on the island.

Indonesia's disaster agency says the September 28 disaster that hit Sulawesi Island has killed 2045 people.

Possibly thousands more are buried in areas where the force of the quake liquefied the soil and sucked houses into the earth.

The agency says it only needs tents, water treatment units, generators and transport from other countries.

The agency's spokesman, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, reiterated that the official search for bodies will end today with prayers in hard-hit neighbourhoods.

After appealing for international assistance, Indonesia is now trying to limit foreign involvement in disaster relief. The agency has issued guidelines that say foreign aid workers can be in the field only with Indonesian partners.

- AP