CANBERRA, March 3 (Xinhuanet) -- Even residents in the Australian state of Western Australia have felt the strong earthquake measuring 7 on the Richter Scale that had a focal point in the Banda Sea, some 500 km off the coast of East Timor.

    Although the strong tremor was felt in Darwin, capital of Northern Territory, last night and some people fled buildings, there was no report of damages in the region. Nor has there been report of tsunami or aftershocks.

    The quake hit more than 100 km beneath the earth's surface. Seismologists say aftershocks are very rare for quakes in such depth and there is no chance of a tsunami.

    The tremor was felt strongly in some of Indonesia's coastal towns but no serious damage was reported. Enditem