7.8 Magnitude Earthquake Jolts Western Indonesia
KABUL: (MEP) A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of western Indonesia’s Sumatra island, forcing residents rush to the streets, the US Geological Survey (USGS) reports.
The quake struck at a depth of 10 kilometres on Wednesday, triggering a tsunami alert for parts of Sumatra, including West Sumatra, North Sumatra and Aceh.
Indonesia’s National Meteorological Agency lifted its tsunami warnings several hours after the tremors.
There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.
The quake was felt strongly in Padang, a major city on western Sumatra, sparking panic.
A journalist with the AFP news agency there said that people ran from their homes and fled to higher ground by motorbike, car or on foot.
