Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The magnitude-6.7 earthquake that hit Aceh Province on Tuesday at 00.55.12 am local time, claimed two lives, according to an official of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).

"Based on preliminary data that we have received, two people were killed and one person was slightly injured," BNPB Chief Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said here on Tuesday.

The earthquake damaged one house of worship, a nurse academy building and three houses seriously, and 15 other houses lightly.

"Besides, 160 shops were gutted by fire due to short circuits," he said.

BNPB was now coordinating with the disaster mitigation agencies of North Sumatra and Aceh to assess the damages.

The Meulaboh meteorology, climatology and geophysics office`s head, Edi Darlupti, said earlier that the quake`s epicenter was located at 2.81 degrees northern latitude and 97.85 degrees eastern longitude, or 59 kilometers northeast of Singkil Baru, Aceh Province, and at a depth of 78 km below sea level.

Edi said the earthquake did not have the potential to trigger a tsunami.

The earthquake was also felt by residents of Kutacane (Southeast Aceh), Tapaktuan (South Aceh), Sabululssalam, Banda Aceh (Aceh Province), Kabanjahe, Medan, and Balige (North Sumatra).
(Uu.F001/HAJM)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011