Indonesia hit by small tsunami

Thousands of people have fled their homes in northeastern Indonesia after being warned that a large tsunami triggered by a Japanese earthquake could pound their shores.

But a meteorological official says only a 10-centimetre wave hit the North Maluku islands and caused no known damage or injuries. Fauzi, who uses only one name, says other areas could still be harder hit, and a second, larger tsunami might be on the way.

Alerts were issued along a long stretch of Indonesia's coastline, triggering widespread panic after today's massive 8.9-magnitude quake in Japan.

Indonesia was hardest hit by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that claimed more than 230,000 lives.