A 6.1-magnitude earthquake hit the island of Papua, about 240 kilometres west of the town of Abepura in Papua province at 10.05am local time, at a depth of 21 kilometres, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).

There were no immediate reports of casualties after the earthquake.

A shallower 6.3-magnitude hit the area last week, but the damage was not extensive.

Later in the day, a separate 7.3-magnitude quake also struck west of that area, but as with the previous quake, no tsunami warning was issued.

The second quake hit at a depth of 208 kilometres south of Ambon island at 11.53am local time, the USGS said.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no threat of a tsunami as the quake was too deep.

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

Last year, a 7.5-magnitude quake and a subsequent tsunami in Palu on Sulawesi island killed more than 2,200 with a thousand more declared missing.

On December 26, 2004, a 9.1-magnitude earthquake struck Aceh province, causing a tsunami and killing more than 170,000.