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Powerful aftershocks hit Sumatra Second strong quake hits Sumatra
(30 minutes later)
A second strong earthquake has hit the Indonesian island of Sumatra, a day after an 8.4 magnitude tremor destroyed buildings in several towns and cities. Another powerful earthquake has hit the Indonesian island of Sumatra, a day after the world's strongest tremor so far this year caused extensive damage.
At least six people are confirmed dead, but officials fear bad communications may be hiding the scale of the impact. At least nine people were killed and many buildings damaged. But the full scale of the impact has yet to emerge.
Wednesday's quake was measured by US officials as magnitude 8.4, and a new tremor of 7.7 hit on Thursday. Tsunami warnings were repeatedly issued and lifted, as many people ran inland fearing a repeat of the 2004 tsunami.
Many buildings, weakened in the first tremor, are now reported to have been destroyed in the city of Padang. Thursday's magnitude-7.8 quake hit the same area in southern Sumatra as the tremor of 8.4 on Wednesday.
"Many buildings collapsed after this morning's quake," mayor Fauzi Bahar told a local radio station. The second quake struck at 0649 on Thursday (2349 GMT on Wednesday), about 10km (six miles) under the sea, some 185km (115 miles) south-east of the city of Padang, the US Geological Survey says.
"We're still trying to find out about victims." name="upagain">
Three people are reported trapped in a collapsed three-storey office building, the mayor said. class="bodl" href="#map">See where the earthquakes hit
It came some 12 hours after the main tremor, about 30km (18 miles) under the sea, 130km (80 miles) south-west of the city of Bengkulu.
At least 40 people have been injured and hundreds of buildings damaged, officials say.
You could see the road as if it was waving, people could hardly walk so they just lay flat on the road Zulkifli LubisBengkulu journalist In pictures: Quake fearYou could see the road as if it was waving, people could hardly walk so they just lay flat on the road Zulkifli LubisBengkulu journalist In pictures: Quake fear
But despite several warnings since the first earthquake, there have so far been no tsunamis. "Many buildings collapsed after this morning's [Thursday's] quake. We're still trying to find out about victims," Padang Mayor Fauzi Bahar told a local radio station.
The initial quake sparked warnings across the Indian Ocean, but only a small wave surge hit Sumatra, causing little damage. Casualties appear to be lower than first feared, but officials warn that bad communications may be hiding the scale of the impact.
At least a dozen aftershocks have been felt and four tsunami warnings were declared during a period of 24 hours, the BBC's Lucy Williamson reports from Jakarta. Health officials in the capital Jakarta say teams carrying food and medicine are travelling to the area, and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has ordered an emergency team from the army and police.
People are being told to leave their homes on the coast and move inland. The United Nations said its was also heading for Sumatra.
Thousands of people were reported to have spent the night sleeping in the open air in the areas of Benkulu and Padang after the previous quake left them terrified, she adds. Fleeing inland
Buildings destroyed Wednesday's quake sparked warnings across the Indian Ocean, but only a small wave surge of about 1m (3ft) hit Sumatra, causing little damage.
Information about damage caused by Wednesday's earthquake is still patchy and assessment of many areas is hampered by darkness and communication problems, our correspondent says.
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 are travelling to the area 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.
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.
"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.
Animated guide: Earthquakes Deadly history of quakesAnimated 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.
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.
At least a dozen aftershocks were felt later and four tsunami warnings briefly declared and then lifted, the BBC's Lucy Williamson reports from Jakarta.
People have been told to leave their homes on the coast and move inland.
Thousands of people were reported to have spent the night sleeping in the open air in the areas of Benkulu and Padang after the previous quake left them terrified.
Fearful memoriesFearful memories
This was one of the most powerful earthquakes in Indonesia since the temblor that caused the Asian tsunami in 2004. Wednesday's earthquake was one of the most powerful in Indonesia since the tremor 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.
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