Moderate quake hits Indonesian island

The temblor struck at 7.28 am, about 174 kilometres southeast of the Central Sulawesi provincial capital of Palu.

A moderate magnitude 5.1 earthquake rattled Indonesia's Sulawesi island on Saturday, the local meteorological agency said. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

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Amron, a meteorologist with the agency, said the temblor struck at 7.28 am, about 174 kilometres southeast of the Central Sulawesi provincial capital of Palu.

Amron, who uses one name, said the quake was centered at a depth of about 30 kilometres and was felt by residents in Palu and the city of Poso.

He said the quake felt like "heavy trucks passing."

In 1968, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake shook Palu and caused a tsunami that killed at least 160 people, according to the meteorological agency's records.