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| Powerful quake shakes Indonesia | Powerful quake shakes Indonesia |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A powerful earthquake has struck off the western Indonesian island of Sumatra, sparking fears of a tsunami. | A powerful earthquake has struck off the western Indonesian island of Sumatra, sparking fears of a tsunami. |
| Alerts were issued for many Indian Ocean nations after the quake, though Indonesia's has now been lifted. | |
| Buildings have collapsed in towns on the west coast of the island of Sumatra. One person has been reported killed and dozens are said to be hurt. | |
| 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 an alert for the entire Indian Ocean region following the latest quake, which the US Geological Survey said measured 8.2. | |
| Danger eases | |
| Besides Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and a number of small islands were put on alert. | Besides Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and a number of small islands were put on alert. |
| There were unconfirmed reports of a small tsunami - estimated at 1-3m (3-10ft) hitting the Sumatran coast - but not causing major damage. | There were unconfirmed reports of a small tsunami - estimated at 1-3m (3-10ft) hitting the Sumatran coast - but not causing major damage. |
| However, about two hours after the quake, Indonesia's meteorology agency said the danger of a serious tsunami had passed. | However, about two hours after the quake, Indonesia's meteorology agency said the danger of a serious tsunami had passed. |
| Warnings remained in place in other countries. | Warnings remained in place in other countries. |
| Wednesday's earthquake struck at 1810 (1110 GMT), about 30km (18 miles) under the sea, some 130km (80 miles) south-west of the city of Bengkulu, the US Geological Survey said. | |
| Local media said buildings had collapsed in Padang, the capital of the province of West Sumatra, and in the town of Mukomuko. | |
| There were also reports of inhabitants fleeing swaying buildings in the capital Jakarta, 600km (370 miles) away, and in Singapore. | |
| "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. | "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. |
| Damage | |
| Officials said it was very difficult to get clear communications with the area to make damage assessments. | Officials said it was very difficult to get clear communications with the area to make damage assessments. |
| Animated guide: Earthquakes Deadly history of quakes | |
| They are sending disaster teams from the capital Jakarta, fearing that there may be significant casualties, says the BBC's Lucy Williamson in Jakarta. | They are sending disaster teams from the capital Jakarta, fearing that there may be significant casualties, says the BBC's Lucy Williamson in Jakarta. |
| "At least one person died when he was hit by a falling tree when they were evacuating after the quake," Salamun Haris, an official from North Bengkulu district, told ElShinta radio. | |
| "Dozens of people were injured in damaged buildings" across the district, he said, and hospitals were clearing wards in anticipation of receiving casualties. | |
| Fearful memories | Fearful memories |
| Our correspondent says this was the most powerful earthquake in Indonesia since the one which caused the Asian tsunami in 2004, and was dangerously shallow. | Our correspondent says this was the most powerful earthquake in Indonesia since the one which caused the Asian tsunami in 2004, and was dangerously shallow. |
| The 2004 quake measured 8.9 and struck under the sea near the northern Sumatran province of Aceh, triggering a tsunami that killed more than 220,000 people around the rim of the Indian Ocean. | The 2004 quake measured 8.9 and struck under the sea near the northern Sumatran province of Aceh, triggering a tsunami that killed more than 220,000 people around the rim of the Indian Ocean. |
| She says quakes on this scale are rare and memories of 2004 have made the country terrified of a repeat. | She says quakes on this scale are rare and memories of 2004 have 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. |
| Are you in the area affected by the earthquake? Send us your comments using the form below. If you have any pictures you can send them to yourpics@bbc.co.uk. Do not endanger yourself or others when taking pictures. | Are you in the area affected by the earthquake? Send us your comments using the form below. If you have any pictures you can send them to yourpics@bbc.co.uk. Do not endanger yourself or others when taking pictures. |
| Find out more about how to send your pictures | Find out more about how to send your pictures |