JAKARTA, Indonesia — A 6.7 magnitude earthquake shook part of Indonesia on Tuesday and was followed by strong aftershocks.

The initial temblor caused strong shaking lasting more than a minute in Palu, a city of about 400,000 people and the capital of Central Sulawesi province.

Scattered damage was reported, and hospitals evacuated patients, some with IV drips, outside as a safety measure.

The initial quake was centered 46 kilometers (29 miles) east-southeast of Palu, and the U.S. Geological Survey said it was about 10 kilometers (6 miles) deep. The strongest subsequent quakes measured 5.2, 5.0 and 4.9 magnitude.

Indonesia is crossed by several seismic faults, and earthquakes and volcanic activity are common.

In January 2021, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake near the city of Mamuju on Sulawesi island left at least 100 people dead, with thousands sleeping outdoors for days out of fear of aftershocks.