REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, AMBON -- A 5.7-magnitude earthquake rocked the Maluku provincial capital of Ambon on Tuesday night, causing panic among residents and leaving several buildings damaged.

The quake caused minor damage to several shopping centers and malls including Ambon City Center (ACC), Maluku City Mall, and Planet 2000, as well as buildings at Pattimura international airport with the ceiling of their rooms falling down, Antara observed.

Sumber Hidup hospital and dr. M. Haulussy Regional General Hospital in Ambon were also damaged, forcing the evacuation of patients to outside the buildings.

"When I was shopping at Planet 2000, I saw the shelves falling down and the lamps going off, prompting employees and shoppers to rush to the highway," one of the shoppers, Rina M, said.

The quake also caused cracks on the wall of the second and third floors of Hotel Amanen

The epicenter of the quake, which struck at 08.31 p.m. local time was located 46 kilometers west of Ambon island at a depth of 10 kilometers, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Office in Ambon said.

The office said the quake did not have the potential to cause a tsunami.

The office also recorded more than seven aftershocks since the 5.7-magnitude quake rocked the Ambon island. 

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