The epicentre of the quake, which came at 0623 GMT, was in the Makassar Strait northeast of the province, said Karyono, an official with the Jakarta geophysics and meteorology agency.

No casualties or damage were reported but the quake was mostly felt in the coastal towns of Palu and Donggala and caused residents there to flee from their homes, Karyono said.

The Indonesian archipelago is one of the world's most earthquake-prone regions, sitting on the so-called "Pacific Rim of Fire" noted for its volcanic and seismic activity.

TERRA.WIRE