The earthquake jolting the area near Sulawesi Sea (Celebes Sea) at 2.13pm Beijing Time (GMT+8) was measured 6.9 on the Richter scale, China's Xinhua news agency reported according to China Earthquake Network Center (CENC).

The quake struck at a depth of 620 km, with the epicentre measured at 4.41 degree north latitude and 122.62 east longitude, the CENC said. -- Bernama