Powerful earthquake of 7.5-magnitude hits Indonesia
Wednesday, 20 Feb 2008 10:03
A large earthquake has struck off western Indonesia
A large earthquake has struck western Indonesia prompting tsunami warnings, the US Geological Survey has announced.
The quake, with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6, struck off the western coast of the Sumatra island and near the Simeulue island.
Immediate tsunami warnings were released but there have thus far been no reports of anyone being injured.
The epicentre of the quake was 198 miles off the coast of Sumatra. It struck at 15:08 local time (08:08 GMT).
The Associated Press new agency claimed local people had rung the radio station el-Shinta to report strong shaking but no immediate reports of damages or injuries had been made.
"Everything shook very strongly for more than a minute and I ran along with the others. I heard people screaming in panic," Ahmad Yushadi told Associated Press.
Indonesia is located in one of the world's most seismically active areas around the world.
A magnitude-nine earthquake off Sumatra's coast on Boxing Day 2004 triggered a tsunami that killed over 230,000 people.