JAKARTA - INDONESIA'S Nias region was hit Thursday by a moderate earthquake, seismologists said.

The USGS said a 5.3-magnitude quake struck at 1.58am (1858 GMT Wednesday), at a depth of 35 kilometres (22 miles) and was centred 281 kilometres west southwest of Sibolga in Sumatra.

Indonesia sits on the Pacific 'Ring of Fire,' where the meeting of continental plates causes high volcanic and seismic activity. -- AFP