Strong Earthquake Rocks Aceh

STRONG QUAKE RATTLES ACEH, THAILAND NOT AFFECTED

An earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale rocked the Indonesian province of Aceh on Tuesday, causing initial panic. However, no damage or casualties were reported.

According to the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency in Jakarta, Indonesia, the earthquake struck at around 10:05 pm (1505 GMT) and was centered about 33 kilometers (20.46 miles) below the sea floor and 90 kilometers (50.4 miles) southwest of the Acehnese capital Banda Aceh.

Meanwhile, the Meterological Department of Thailand said the quake was felt quite strongly in Banda Aceh, but caused no casualties or damage. There were no damages felt in PHUKET (ภูเก็ต) and PHANG-NGA (พังงา) Provinces. The two provinces are just 350-kilometers away from Sumatra Island in Indonesia.

Earlier, a 9.3-magnitude quake off the west coast of Aceh on Sumatra Island triggered the December 26 tsunamis that left at least 217,000 people dead around the Indian Ocean, including 131,000 in Aceh alone.

Indonesia sits on the so-called Pacific Rim of Fire, where the meeting of continental plates causes high volcanic and seismic activity.

Source: thaisnews.com ประจำวันพุธที่ 12 ตุลาคม 2548