Strong earthquake off Indonesia's Java kills one

A strong undersea earthquake has shaken parts of Indonesia's main island of Java, causing panic as it killed at least one person, injured two others and damaged dozens of houses.

The US Geological Survey says the magnitude 5.8 quake was centred 84 kilometres southwest of Bambanglipuro, a village in Bantul regency of the special province of Yogyakarta. It occurred at a depth of 86km.

Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency, said a 67-year-old woman in Bantul died when she fell while fleeing in panic and at least two other residents were injured.

Friday's quake damaged at least 93 houses as well as other buildings, such as schools, health centres, houses of worship and government facilities, in Yogyakarta and its neighbouring provinces of Central Java and East Java, Muhari said.

Television reports showed local residents in Yogyakarta and Central Java provinces panicking as houses and buildings swayed for several seconds. Some places ordered evacuations, sending streams of people into the streets.

Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency said there was no danger of a tsunami but warned of possible aftershocks.

The agency measured a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 for the quake. Variations in early measurements of quakes are common.

Yogyakarta is an ancient centre of Javanese culture and the seat of royal dynasties going back centuries.

Australian Associated Press