JAKARTA, April 2 (Xinhua) -- A 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck the Maluku region of eastern Indonesia at 05:48 local time on Thursday, prompting a tsunami early warning for several coastal areas.

The country's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) said the earthquake had the potential to trigger a tsunami in North Maluku and North Sulawesi, issuing early warning alerts with "alert" and "caution" status.

Local governments have been urged to direct residents to evacuate, while people living in coastal areas were advised to stay away from beaches and riverbanks and follow official instructions.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or major damage, while authorities continued monitoring the situation and assessing potential impacts.