Jakarta: As many as 18 houses were damaged in Indonesia's North Maluku province after a powerful quake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale jolted the country early Wednesday, officials said.

The epicentre of the quake was located 58 km deep and 124 km northwest of Ternate city in North Maluku province, an official told Xinhua news agency. The USGS reported that the quake measured 6.5 on the Richter scale.