Magnitude 7.9-quake hits Sumatra island, tsunami warning issued

JAKARTA, Indonesia — A powerful, shallow earthquake hit off the southwestern coast of Sumatra in Indonesia on Wednesday and could trigger a tsunami, officials said. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

The U.S. Geological Service said the earthquake struck Wednesday evening (around 8:49 pm, Manila time) and had a preliminary magnitude of 7.9. It was centered under the ocean at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), it said.

Shallow earthquakes are more likely to cause damage, but the USGS said the quake was located far from land, about 662 kilometers (411 miles) from the city of Muara Siberut.

Indonesian officials warned that the quake might trigger a tsunami.

Marjina, a resident of Sikakap in the Mentawai islands, about 720 kilometers (450 miles) from the epicenter, said the quake was felt weakly there, but the tsunami warning caused panic among villagers, who ran to higher ground.

Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology issued a marine warning for distant Cocos and Christmas islands. It did not advise evacuations, but said strong and dangerous currents were possible and people should secure boats and avoid waterfront areas. The warning noted that a tsunami had not been confirmed.

Agence France-Presse said local BMKG quake-monitoring agency issued a tsunami alert for parts of Sumatra, including West Sumatra, North Sumatra and Aceh.

Indonesia sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, where the meeting of continental plates causes strong seismic activity, and is frequently hit by earthquakes.

A monster quake off Indonesia in 2004 triggered a tsunami that killed 230,000 people in a dozen countries. Most of the deaths were in Aceh province.  TVJ