Indonesia earthquake: Tsunami warnings issued after 8.6 magnitude quake strikes off coast
A massive earthquake struck off
the coast of Indonesia on Wednesday, triggering immediate tsunami
warnings for the region--and fears for an area devastated by an
earthquake eight years ago.
According to U.S. Geological
Survey, the 8.6 magnitude earthquake struck 270 miles southwest of Banda
Aceh, Indonesia, at a depth of 14 miles.
[Related: Coast Guard sinks tsunami 'ghost ship']
Two hours later, a strong, 8.2 magnitude aftershock also struck off the coast of the Sumatra island.
According to CNN, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami watch for the entire Indian Ocean. According to the New York Times, the earthquake could be felt in Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.
Fearful residents in Banda Aceh fled to higher ground after the quake and several aftershocks could be felt there.
According to Reuters, power was down in Aceh province.
"The electricity is down, there
are traffic jams to access higher ground," a spokesman for Indonesia's
disaster management agency told the news service. "Sirens and Koran recitals from mosques are everywhere."
There were no immediate reports
of damage, injuries or fatalities, Indonesian president Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono said on local television.
In 2004, a 9.1 magnitude earthquake killed an estimated 230,000 people in the region.
