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| Rescuers bound for Sumatra quake | Rescuers bound for Sumatra quake |
| (39 minutes later) | |
| Rescue teams are being sent to the Indonesian island of Sumatra, where a powerful earthquake has destroyed buildings in several towns and cities. | Rescue teams are being sent to the Indonesian island of Sumatra, where a powerful earthquake has destroyed buildings in several towns and cities. |
| At least six people are confirmed dead and 40 injured, though officials fear darkness and broken communications may be hiding the scale of the impact. | At least six people are confirmed dead and 40 injured, though officials fear darkness and broken communications may be hiding the scale of the impact. |
| Wednesday's quake was measured by US officials as magnitude 8.4, and an aftershock of 7.7 hit on Thursday. | Wednesday's quake was measured by US officials as magnitude 8.4, and an aftershock of 7.7 hit on Thursday. |
| But despite three warnings in 24 hours, there have been no tsunamis. | |
| The initial quake sparked warnings across the Indian Ocean, but only a small wave surge hit Sumatra, causing little damage. | The initial quake sparked warnings across the Indian Ocean, but only a small wave surge hit Sumatra, causing little damage. |
| A new tsunami warning came into force on Thursday morning, after the latest aftershock, but it was withdrawn two hours later. | |
| Buildings destroyed | Buildings destroyed |
| Information about damage caused by Wednesday's earthquake is still patchy and assessment of many areas is hampered by darkness and communication problems, says the BBC's Lucy Williamson in Jakarta. | Information about damage caused by Wednesday's earthquake is still patchy and assessment of many areas is hampered by darkness and communication problems, says the BBC's Lucy Williamson in Jakarta. |
| Many of the stricken areas are remote, and it may take some time to find out how bad the situation is. | Many of the stricken areas are remote, and it may take some time to find out how bad the situation is. |
| Health officials in the capital, Jakarta, say teams carrying food and medicine will travel to the area at first light and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has ordered an emergency team from the army and police. | Health officials in the capital, Jakarta, say teams carrying food and medicine will travel to the area at first light and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has ordered an emergency team from the army and police. |
| A United Nations assessment team is also departing for Sumatra, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement. | A United Nations assessment team is also departing for Sumatra, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement. |
| Wednesday's main 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. | Wednesday's main 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. | Local media said buildings had collapsed in Padang, the capital of the province of West Sumatra, and in the town of Mukomuko. |
| "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. | "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. |
| Inhabitants also fled swaying buildings in the capital Jakarta, 600km (370 miles) away, and in Singapore. | Inhabitants also fled swaying buildings in the capital Jakarta, 600km (370 miles) away, and in Singapore. |
| Animated guide: Earthquakes Deadly history of quakes | Animated guide: Earthquakes Deadly history of quakes |
| "You could see the road as if it was waving, people could hardly walk so they just lay flat on the road. I could also feel the earth I was standing on was like the sea," Zulkifli Lubis, a local journalist in Bengkulu, told the BBC. | "You could see the road as if it was waving, people could hardly walk so they just lay flat on the road. I could also feel the earth I was standing on was like the sea," Zulkifli Lubis, a local journalist in Bengkulu, told the BBC. |
| There were reports of a small tsunami - estimated at about 1m (3ft) - hitting the Sumatran coast but not causing major damage. | There were reports of a small tsunami - estimated at about 1m (3ft) - hitting the Sumatran coast but not causing major damage. |
| But about two hours after the quake, Indonesia's meteorology agency said the danger of a serious tsunami had passed. India and Sri Lanka also called off tsunami warnings. | But about two hours after the quake, Indonesia's meteorology agency said the danger of a serious tsunami had passed. India and Sri Lanka also called off tsunami warnings. |
| Fearful memories | Fearful memories |
| This was one of the most powerful earthquakes in Indonesia since the temblor that caused the Asian tsunami in 2004. | This was one of the most powerful earthquakes in Indonesia since the temblor that caused the Asian tsunami in 2004. |
| That 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. | That 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. |
| Our correspondent says quakes on this scale are rare and memories of 2004 have made the country terrified of a repeat. | Our correspondent 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 |