A strong earthquake, measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale, struck the northern Molucca Sea (Laut Maluku) this morning, according to the Malaysian Meteorological Department.

The epicentre of the quake, which occurred at 3.15 am, was 114km north-west of Ternate, Indonesia, and 953 km south-east of Semporna, Sabah, it said in a statement.

However, there was no tsunami threat to Malaysia, it said.