Strong quake off Sumatra sparks panic
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-05-19 13:25

JAKARTA - A strong magnitude 6.8 earthquake rattled Indonesia's Sumatra on Thursday, sparking panic on a nearby island where a large quake killed hundreds in March, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

The epicenter was in the sea about 111 km northwest of Mount Sitoli on Nias island, the Indonesian Meteorological and Geophysical Agency in Jakarta said.

"Up to this moment, we have not received any report of damage, but people were rushing out of their homes," said one official at the government earthquake post on Nias.

Thursday's quake was 30 km deep and struck at around 8:54 a.m. (0154 GMT).

The official said people had returned to their homes and there was no indication the quake had triggered a tsunami.

Indonesia -- especially Sumatra island -- has been hit by aftershocks since a massive earthquake on Dec. 26 that led to a devastating tsunami which left 160,000 Indonesians feared dead.

Nias was hit by an 8.7 magnitude quake on March 28 that killed hundreds of residents.

Nias, about 1,400 km northwest of Jakarta, is a remote and rugged island off Sumatra famed as a surfing paradise.

Close

Today's Top News     Top World News
China slams US over textiles, denies yuan manipulation         Premier Wen: China to sustain rapid growth         Wu urges free trade agreement with Japan         Coal mine blast traps 51 miners underground         More aid to help Mideast peace process         US raising tensions over China's currency	Alleged Al-Zarqawi tape denounces Shiites       Japan calls for isles compromises with Russia       Official: Iran won't give up nuke program       Bush proposes corps to aid new democracies       Ex-Taliban Foreign Minister to seek office       Surge of Israeli-Palestinian violence strains truce