An earthquake measuring up to 7.1 on the Richter scale struck eastern Indonesia Saturday, a day after one of similar magnitude killed 27 people and injured hundreds. The U.S. Geological Survey said the latest quake's epicenter was near the town of Nabire, in remote Papua province, according to survey spokesman Butch Kinerney. It was of greater magnitude than the 6.9 earthquake that struck nearby early on Friday, causing widespread damage. Saturday's tremor, which Indonesia's own earthquake center said was 6.2 on the Richter scale, triggered panic in Nabire, where many residents had refused to return to their homes fearing aftershocks. Most of the deaths in Friday's quake, which occurred in the early hours in the morning, were from houses and buildings collapsing in the town, a regional center of 26,000 people. The USGS's Kinerney, speaking in the United States, said: "there could be significant damage and casualties from this earthquake as well," referring to Saturday's tremor. But Nabire district police chief Mohamad Son Ani told reporters on the scene: "There was no fresh damage." Another police officer, Miftah, said the death toll from the first quake, put at 25 earlier in the day, had reached 27. Son Ani said the total number of injured was 200. Officials fear it could be days before the extent of damage and death in the countryside and smaller villages is known. The area is remote and Friday's quake knocked out most of the area's electricity and communications. Saturday's quake struck at 11:42 a.m. Papua time. Before it hit, Nabire's city center had started to return to normal, with some shops open for business. **SLEEPING OUTSIDE*** Residents said they were likely to sleep outside their houses for a second night. "I could not sleep last night. We all refused to go inside our houses until this morning. The situation is still tense," Marquisa, a mother of four, told Reuters as she stood outside her home. "We brought everything that we could but we do not know for how long we have to stay like this," another resident said. Several doctors were still treating patients outside the badly damaged Nabire hospital and beds had been set up in tents outside. The grounds were littered with used syringes, medical gloves and blood-soaked cotton balls. A nurse said there were shortages of medicines and anesthetics. The first quake destroyed schools, forced the airport to close to commercial flights and buckled and cracked roads. It knocked one church tower to the ground. "When it happened there was no one at the church but I am pretty shocked because the church had been just renovated last Christmas," Protestant minister Nobuburis said. A mosque was also damaged, its silver dome smashed on the ground. Worshippers had been inside for early prayers on Friday prior to the quake. "Luckily it did not happen in the middle of the prayer," said worshipper Rahardian. The epicenter of Friday's quake was about 4 miles from the town. The USGS said Saturday's quake occurred 30 miles further to the west. Remote but resource-rich Papua -- formerly known as Irian Jaya -- is 1,900 miles east of Indonesia's capital, Jakarta. Since Feb. 3, the region has been struck by a total of seven moderate to strong earthquakes, ranging from 4.5 on the Richter scale to 7.1, the USGS said. "This is the largest and latest in a series of earthquakes in this area stretching back for a week or so," spokesman Kinerney said. **PHOTO CAPTION*** A motorist rides on a road damaged by an earthquake in Nabire, Papua province, Indonesia, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2004. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)