Jakarta, March 28
A massive 8.2 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Sumatra tonight, close to where a quake triggered a tsunami that left nearly 3,00,000 persons dead or missing across Asia, residents and officials said.
It has left “tens” of people dead and caused extensive damage on the outlying island of Nias, south of Sumatra, an official was quoted as saying to Metro TV.
The latest quake had the potential to cause a “widely destructive tsunami” and authorities should take “immediate action,” including evacuating coastlines within 1,000 km of the epicentre, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said.
Malaysia urged residents along parts of its west coast to evacuate to higher areas.
Thailand, India and Sri Lanka also immediately issued tsunami warnings in coastal areas. Sirens were ringing in the eastern Sri Lankan town of Trincomalee, residents said.
A spokesman for the US Geological Survey said the quake struck 200 km west northwest of Sibolga, Sumatra or 880 miles northwest of the Indonesian capital of Jakarta at 1609 GMT, close to where the 9.0 magnitude quake struck in
December.
New Delhi: The Army, Air Force and Navy were put on high alert tonight in the wake of the massive earthquake, Home Minister Shivraj Patil said.
The Union Home Ministry tonight advised the coastal states of Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar to take all precautionary measures to alert the people and remain in “highest state of preparedness”.
In a message to the Chief Secretaries of these states, the Home Ministry said people living close to the sea might be moved up to safer places.
— Agencies
