Powerful Aftershocks Hit Sumatra, Indonesia
After the first earthquake of the intensity of 8.4 on the Richter scale, the world’s most powerful tremor so far this year, hit Southern Sumatra in Indonesia on 12th September, Wednesday, a second powerful earthquake of the intensity of 7.8 has hit the same area on 13th September, Thursday at 6:49 AM (23:49 GMT/UTC on Wednesday). This has prompted countries around the Indian Ocean to issue and subsequently lift a series of tsunami alerts and to evacuate people from coastal belts to areas further inland. 9 deaths and extensive damage have been reported so far. According to the US Geological Survey, the epicenter of this second earthquake was about 185 kilometers (115 miles) south-east of the city of Padang and about 210 km north-west of the city of Bengkulu. In Padang, many buildings that were weakened in the first tremor have now been completely destroyed.The first earthquake had hit at 6:10 PM local time on Wednesday, at a depth of 15 kilometers (9.3 miles), about 130km (80 miles) southwest of Bengkulu. Officials have requested the people to evacuate the coasts and move further inland. According to reports, thousands of people in Bengkulu and Padang spent their nights in the open amidst fears of fresh aftershocks. A small tsunami, estimated at about 1m (3ft) had also hit the Sumatran coast but did not cause any major damage. At least 6 people are confirmed dead but the real damage to life and property is still to be estimated.
The earthquake was however less powerful than a 9.1 magnitude quake off the coast of Sumatra in December 2004, which had generated a tsunami devastating coastal areas in countries bordering the Indian Ocean and killing more than 220,000 people.
According to latest reports, a third earthquake of the magnitude of 6.6 has hit Indonesia. The latest tremor in the region hit the Talaud Islands at 9:49 GMT/UTC on 13 September, Wednesday. However there are no reports of death or destruction till now.
Earthquake Update
According to latest reports four more earthquakes have occured in Indonesia taking the figure of the latest earthquakes to seven. On thursday, 13 September an earthquake of the magnitude of 5.6 struck the Kep. Mentawai Region at 13:10 GMT/UTC followed by one of 6.2 that hit Southern Sumatra at 16:09 GMT/UTC. Then on Thursday, 14 September another earthquake of the magnitude 5.9 hit the same region at 1:02 GMT/UTC. The latest quake was of the magnitude 5.5 and hit the Kep. Mentawai Region of Indonesia on Thursday, 14 September at 04:03 GMT/UTC.
