Banda Aceh (ANTARA News) - An earthquake measuring 5 on the Richter scale rocked Banda Aceh and environs on Monday night but there was no immediate report of casualties or material damage.

The epicenter of the quake which struck at 07.40 p.m. was located at 4.75 degrees northern latitude and 94.67 degrees eastern longitude or about 108 km southwest of Banda Aceh at a depth of 10 km, spokesman of the Mata Ie Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Station Fanny said.

The temblor was felt by local people at II on the Modified Mercally Intensity (MMI).

"We have just received a report that the temblor was only felt by those living in Banda Aceh city," he said.

Local resident Nonong said he was staying at home when the quake occurred. He rushed outdoors although the magnitude of the quake was not too strong.

"I was watching the television (when the quake happened). I was suddenly shaken before realizing that it was a quake. Not only me but also several neighbors felt the quake," he said.

An 8.9-magnitude undersea quake that unleashed a deadly tsunami devastated part of Aceh on December 26, 2004, leaving more than 200 thousand people dead.

Since then, quakes with lower magnitudes frequently jolted the province.
(T.A042/S012/HAJM)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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