JAYAPURA ~ Freak waves damaged dozens of houses in Papua province, forcing evacuations but causing no injuries, an official said on Wednesday.

“About 36 houses in two villages outside Jayapura have been damaged by the four-meter-high waves. Five houses have been swept away,” health ministry crisis centre head Rustam Pakaya said.

The waves struck around 6:30pm on Tuesday, four hours before a 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck off the provincial capital of Jayapura, he said.

All the evacuees had returned to their houses.

High seas and wild weather are normal from December to February in Indonesia.