"Massive" (8.7) Quake Hits Indonesia

Massive Earthquake Hits Indonesia, Tsunami Alert Sounded In Indian Ocean

An earthquake measuring 8.7 on Richter scale hit Indonesia's Aceh province. Indonesia issues tsunami warning as powerful quake hits off west coast. The mild tremors were also felt in Indian cities of Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore and several other cities on the eastern coast.

The epicentre of the quake was located 33 km below the earth surface, about 495 km from Indonesia's Banda Aceh and 962 km from Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.

According to reports, India too has issued Tsunami warnings for Nicobar islands and east India following the earthquake. Six national disaster teams have been rushed from Arakulum to Chennai. Besides Navy and coast guard have also been kept on high alert in Chennai, Vizag, Kochi and Port Blair. National Disaster Management Authority has, however, ruled out tsunami threat in India.

Asia Issues Tsunami Alerts After Quake Near Indonesia

An 8.6-magnitude earthquake struck off Indonesia’s Aceh province, the U.S. Geological Survey said today, prompting residents to flee to higher ground as India, Thailand and Sri Lanka issued tsunami warnings.

The quake struck 431 kilometers (268 miles) off the coast of Aceh, one of Indonesia’s poorest provinces where 170,000 people died or went missing in a Indian Ocean 2004 tsunami. India’s tsunami center warned of possible six-meter waves in the Andaman islands and the Malaysian Meteorological Department advised people in Penang, Kedah, Perlis, Langkawi and Perak to stay away from the coastline.

Buildings in neighboring Singapore shook after the quake hit, which was initially measured at a magnitude of 8.9, and tremors were felt in India.

No Sign Of Major Tsunami After Indonesia Quake

A massive earthquake off Indonesia's western coast triggered a tsunami watch for countries across the Indian Ocean on Wednesday, clogging streets with traffic as residents fled to high ground in cars and on the backs of motorcycles.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii said a tsunami watch was in effect for Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Australia, Myanmar, Thailand, the Maldives and other Indian Ocean islands, Malaysia, Pakistan, Somalia, Oman, Iran, Bangladesh, Kenya, South Africa and Singapore.

But hours later, the threat appeared to have passed.

Roger Musson, seismologist at the British geological survey who has studied Sumatra's fault lines, says the temblor was a strike-slip quake, not a thrust quake, which causes the sea bed to flip up.

The tremor was felt in Malaysia, where it caused high-rise buildings to shake for about a minute, and in Singapore, Thailand, Bangladesh and India.

There was chaos in the streets of Aceh, where memories of a 2004 tsunami that killed 170,000 people in the province alone, are still raw.

Patients poured out of hospitals, some with drips still attached to their arms. In some places, electricity was briefly cut.

Hours after the temblor, people were still standing outside their homes and offices, afraid to go back inside.

There were several strong aftershocks.