Earthquake in Indonesia: Water-front restaurant falls into sea, kills 4. Video

People stand on the roofing of collapsed shops in the port after a 5.1-magnitude earthquake in Jayapura, Indonesia's eastern province of Papua on February 9.

At least four people were killed Thursday when an earthquake struck the capital of Indonesia's breakaway eastern region of Papua and crumpled a waterfront restaurant, officials said.

The 5.1-magnitude quake hit around 1.28 pm (0628 GMT) on land just southwest of Jayapura city at a depth of 22 kilometres, the US Geological Survey said.

"A cafe collapsed and four people died there. It fell into the sea," Asep Khalid, head of the Jayapura disaster mitigation agency, said in a press release.

An earthquake of magnitude 5.4 shook Jayapura City, #Papua, #Indonesia Thursday (9/2) afternoon. The #earthquake was located 82 kilometers northwest in #Keerom Regency. #gempa #gempabumi #PapuaIndonesia #Jayapura pic.twitter.com/VEuEsyNhW8

— Volcaholic (@CarolynnePries1) February 9, 2023

Residents in Jayapura said people scrambled for safety, running from houses and shops when the quake struck.

Putri Kurita, 30, bolted for the exit at another restaurant fearing it would collapse.

"I was having lunch when things suddenly swayed, the jolt got much stronger," she told AFP.

Earthquake in Papua, Indonesia today afternoon at 3.30 am pic.twitter.com/ZMo78yYFSp

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— Irfan Novianto (@irfanov2) February 9, 2023

The country's meteorological agency gave a higher magnitude of 5.2 and warned of potential aftershocks.

Indonesia experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its position on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", where tectonic plates collide.

The region affected by Thursday's quake is home to a decades-long insurgency waged by rebels seeking independence from Indonesia.

The quake comes days after a powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake killed more than 17,500 people in Turkey and Syria, while other minor ones were reported in USA's New York and Italy.

(With inputs from AFP)

Watch: Syrian boy smiles, plays with rescue workers who pulled him out of rubble