Indonesia earthquake: Tsunami warning issued after 'extreme' 7.6 magnitude tremor

A huge magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia sending terrified locals fleeing from their homes.

Experts issued a tsunami warning after the quake on Tuesday but this was later lifted.

The US based Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said that waves were 'possible for coasts within 1,000kms of Indonesia quake epicentre.'

Footage on social media appeared to show panicked locals fleeing buildings which were visibly shaking under the power of the earthquake.

Images also revealed the damage that had been caused by the tremors in the surrounding areas, including at South Sulawesi.

"Everyone ran out into the street," Agustinus Florianus, a resident of Maumere told Reuters.

Pictures of the damage at South Sulawesi was posted on social media (Twitter)

"It felt like a wave, up and down," Zacharias Gentana Keranz, a resident of Larantuka said.

The quake hit 112 km (69.59 miles) northwest of Larantuka, in the eastern part of Flores, at a depth of 12 km.

Tsunami warnings were issued for the areas of Maluku, East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara and Southeast and South Sulawesi.

A 5.6-magnitude aftershock also hit Larantuka after the first quake struck.

It is not known if there have been any casualties (Twitter)

The tremors were also felt strongly in Makassar (Twitter)

Alfons Hada Betan, head of East Flores Disaster Mitigation agency in Larantuka said there were no immediate reports of damage and the quake was felt for several minutes as people fled from their homes.

People said on social media the earthquake was also felt strongly in Makassar, South Sulawesi.

Accounts of the scale of the quake have varied and the US Geological Survey put the measurement at 7.3.

An earthquake with a magnitude above 7.0 is considered a 'major earthquake' which can cause 'serious damage.'

Indonesia is prone to earthquakes because of its position on the 'Ring of Fire', an arc of volcanoes and fault lines lying in the basin of the Pacific Ocean.

Earlier this month a volcano wreaked havoc when it erupted for a second time.

Mount Semeru began spewing out hot clouds of ash in Java killing at least 22 people and forcing thousands of people to flee their homes.

Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency confirmed the latest death toll along with 27 people still missing.