JAKARTA - A 5.2-MAGNITUDE earthquake struck off the eastern Indonesian province of Maluku on Thursday, the US Geological Survey said, but there were immediate reports of damage or casualties.

The quake hit at 11.50 pm and its epicentre was about 170 kilometres north of Ternate in northern Maluku, the USGS said.

It was registered at a depth of 107 kilometres.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii did not issue an alert for the region. -- AFP