"Quite powerful aftershocks will most likely be felt by inhabitants of Aceh and surrounding areas. We hope the people will remain watchful but calm because it will not be as strong as those of last night," Head of the Nagan Raya BMKG Edi Darlupti said in Meulaboh, West Aceh, Wednesday.
An earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter Scale rocked Aceh at 1.35 am WIB on Wednesday, causing hundreds of local residents living in coastal areas to rush to higher ground in fear of a possible tsunami. The epicenter of the magnitude-7.6 earthquake was located at 2.32 degrees northern latitude and 92.82 degrees eastern longitude, at a depth of 10 km below sea level, and around 388 km southwest of Meulaboh, Aceh.
The earthquake was felt by local residents in Banda Aceh at III-IV MMI (Modified Mercalli Intensity).
Following the earthquake, the province was jolted by aftershocks with a magnitude of respectively 5.0 on the Richter Scale at 2.02 am WIB and 5.4 on the Richter Scale at 4.00 am local time.
Aceh Darussalam Province and Nias Island (North Sumatra) were devastated by a powerful earthquake and a deadly tsunami on December 26, 2004, causing the death and disappearance of around 200,000 people and rendering about one million others homeless.
(Uu.F001/HAJM/O001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
