Earthquake strikes off Bali coast

An earthquake off the Indonesian holiday island of Bali has sent people running from their homes in panic.

At least seven people have been injured - some were hurt jumping from buildings while others had been hit by falling debris, an official said.

The quake - measuring 5.8 according to the US Geological Survey - struck at dawn 75km (45 miles) south of Denpasar.

No tsunami warning was issued and there were few reports of serious material damage, local officials said.

"I was frightened because it was strong," Dutch tourist Ernst Raynaldo was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.

"I ran out immediately as I saw many others rushing into the swimming pool," the closest open space.

"When the quake happened I was in a market and some people started shouting and running out of the market building, leaving their belongings behind," Putu Suartana, a resident in Singaraja in Bali, was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency.

The roof of a shopping centre in Denpasar collapsed.

Two weeks ago, an earthquake on the main Indonesian island of Java left at least 50 dead.

In December 2004, an earthquake off the coast of Sumatra in Indonesia triggered a tsunami that killed more than 200,000 people around Asia.

Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the most active areas for earthquakes and volcanic activity in the world.