Indonesia's Banda Sea hit by two powerful earthquakes

Indonesia's Banda Sea region has been hit by two powerful earthquakes, although neither with tsunami potential, according to the country's geophysics agency

The first quake was of 6.9 magnitude and hit the area close to midday local time on Wednesday while the second registered 6.8 and struck late in the evening.

The epicentre of both quakes was at sea, located 255km from the Tanimbar Islands in Indonesia's Maluku province.

The islands are about 420km off Australia's Northern Territory.

The depth of the first quake was 45km while the second was 10km, the agency added.

There was no immediate report of damage.

Indonesia straddles the so-called "Pacific Ring of Fire," an area of high seismic activity that rests atop multiple tectonic plates.

The Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre said on Thursday there was no tsunami threat to the Australian mainland, islands or territories from the second quake.