Indonesia Quake Triggers Tsunami False Alarm

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Indonesia quake triggers tsunami false alarm

JAKARTA: -- Indonesian authorities lifted a tsunami warning after tidal waves did not materialized following a powerful earthquake that struck Bengkulu province on Monday afternoon.

Indonesia's National Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG) said in a short message service that a tsunami warning had been lifted, nearly an hour after the 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck the western coast of Sumatra at about 3:36 pm (0836 GMT).

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Jakarta (dpa) - A powerful 7.2-magnitude undersea earthquake jolted Indonesia's Bengkulu province and parts of western Sumatra on Monday afternoon, prompting government authorities to issue a tsunami warning.

But tsunami alert was cancelled after no tidal waves materialised after 40 minutes, seismologists said.

The quake's epicentre was in the Indian Ocean, about 165 kilometres southwest of Mukomuko of Bengkulu. It occurred at 3:36 pm (0836 GMT) about 10 kilometres beneath the seabed, Indonesia's National Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG) said.

The US Geological Survey put the magnitude of the quake at 7.1.

The quake caused panic among residents of various towns in Bengkulu and West Sumatra provinces, Elshinta radio reported. In Riau province of Central Sumatra, thousands of people ran out of their homes, shopping malls and other buildings.

"More than 40 minutes after the quake, there are no tsunami reports from the quake," said seismologist Budi Waluyo, adding that only a minor tsunami occurred briefly along the western coast of West Sumatra capital of Padang, but it was not dangerous.

Budi said he has so far received no reports of damage or injury from the quake.

The quake was also felt in tall buildings in the capital Jakarta, where pictures swayed on walls.

An 5.0 aftershock followed the initial quake, the BMG said in another short message.

A report by Elshinta radio station from several cities across Sumatra's Bengkulu, West Sumatra and Riau provinces, said the quake triggered panic among thousands of residents.

It was the latest in a series of earthquakes to hit Bengkulu and other parts of western Sumatra island recently.

Late Sunday a 6.5-magnitude earthquake hit Bengkulu and West Sumatra, but there were no reports of injury or structural damage.

On September 12, Bengkulu province was rocked by a powerful 8.4-magnitude quake that killed more than 20 people.

Earlier story:

Powerful quake triggers tsunami warning for Indonesia

Jakarta (dpa) - A powerful 7.2-magnitude undersea earthquake jolted Indonesia's Bengkulu province on Monday afternoon, prompting government authorities to issue a tsunami warning.

The quake caused panic among residents of various towns in Bengkulu and West Sumatra provinces, Elshinta radio reported.

The quake's epicentre was in the Indian Ocean, about 165 kilometres southwest of Mukomuko of Bengkulu. It occurred at 3:36 pm (0836 GMT) about 10 kilometres beneath the seabed, Indonesia's National Meteorology and Geophysics Agency said.

"We have issued a warning that the quake has potential to cause a tsunami," said seismologist Suharjono, who like many Indonesians goes by only one name.

It was the latest in a series of earthquakes to hit Bengkulu and other parts of western Sumatra island in recent hours.

On late Sunday, an 6.5-magnitude earthquake hit Bengkulu and West Sumatra, but there were no reports of injury and structural damage.

On September 12, Bengkulu province was was rocked by a powerful 8.4-magnitude quake that killed more than 20 people.

--DPA 2008-02-25