Deaths and panic after 7.8 magnitude earthquake rattles Indonesian coast

A powerful earthquake caused casualties and spread panic throughout Indonesia, the country worst hit by the 2004 tsunami. The magnitude 7.8 quake’s epicentre was 502 miles south-west of Padang and was six miles deep. It was felt at least as far away as Malaysia and Singapore and was measured at 8.2 before being downgraded. It sparked tsunami alerts across the region although they were later cancelled. However, Heronimus Guru, deputy head of operations for the country’s search and rescue agency, said: “There are some who have died”, but was unable to give further details.

Get out of the water and move away from the immediate water’s edge

Warning from Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology

The quake was felt strongly in Padang in West Sumatra for a few second. People ran out of their homes to higher ground and there were reports of patients being moved from hospitals, traffic jams and general panic. The National Meteorological Agency had issued a tsunami warning for parts of Sumatra, including West Sumatra, North Sumatra and Aceh. A similar warning was issued for parts of Western Australia but both were later withdrawn. However, a marine warning was in place for Cocos and Christmas islands, where strong and dangerous currents were possible and people were told to secure boats and avoid the seafront.

I am at the beach currently looking to see any tsunami sign with my flashlight. There’s nothing. A few minutes have passed but nothing, but many people have already evacuated to higher places.

Erwin, a resident of Mentawai, a chain of islands off Sumatra

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