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Powerful quake shakes Indonesia Powerful quake shakes Indonesia
(9 minutes later)
A powerful earthquake has struck off the western Indonesian island of Sumatra, triggering tsunami alerts across the Indian Ocean.A powerful earthquake has struck off the western Indonesian island of Sumatra, triggering tsunami alerts across the Indian Ocean.
The tremor had a magnitude of 7.9, according to Indonesian monitors.The tremor had a magnitude of 7.9, according to Indonesian monitors.
There are reports of buildings collapsing in towns on the west coast of Sumatra, but it is not yet clear whether there are casualties.There are reports of buildings collapsing in towns on the west coast of Sumatra, but it is not yet clear whether there are casualties.
A massive undersea earthquake sparked a tsunami that killed more than 130,000 people in Indonesia in December 2004.A massive undersea earthquake sparked a tsunami that killed more than 130,000 people in Indonesia in December 2004.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre issued a tsunami alert for the entire Indian Ocean region following the latest quake.The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre issued a tsunami alert for the entire Indian Ocean region following the latest quake.
It says it is not known whether a tsunami has been generated.It says it is not known whether a tsunami has been generated.
I saw some parts of houses crumbled to the ground Ayu ClaudiaResident of Bengkulu Animated guide: Earthquakes
Besides Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and a number of small islands were put on alert.
Wednesday's earthquake struck at 1810 (1110 GMT), about 15km (nine miles) under the sea, some 100km (60 miles) south-west of the city of Bengkulu, the US Geological Survey said.Wednesday's earthquake struck at 1810 (1110 GMT), about 15km (nine miles) under the sea, some 100km (60 miles) south-west of the city of Bengkulu, the US Geological Survey said.
Local media said buildings in Padang, the capital of the province of West Sumatra, and in the town of Mukomuko, had collapsed.
"I saw some parts of houses crumbled to the ground but not huge damage. People ran out of their homes," Ayu Claudia, a resident of Bengkulu, told the AFP news agency before the phone went dead.
There were also reports of inhabitants fleeing swaying buildings in the capital Jakarta and in Singapore.
The BBC's Lucy Williamson in Jakarta says this was the most powerful earthquake in Indonesia since the one which caused the Asian tsunami in 2004, and was dangerously shallow.The BBC's Lucy Williamson in Jakarta says this was the most powerful earthquake in Indonesia since the one which caused the Asian tsunami in 2004, and was dangerously shallow.
She says quakes on this scale are rare and memories of 2004 has made the country terrified of a repeat.She says quakes on this scale are rare and memories of 2004 has made the country terrified of a repeat.
Indonesia, part of the seismically active Pacific "Ring of Fire", is frequently shaken by earth tremors.Indonesia, part of the seismically active Pacific "Ring of Fire", is frequently shaken by earth tremors.


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