By Xinhua
Jakarata : A powerful earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale hit Indonesia, snapping telecommunication links with the hardest-hit area of Sinabang town in Siemelu island of Aceh province Wednesday.
The Indonesian Meteorology and Geophysics Agency said the quake struck at 15:08 (0808 GMT) with the epicentre 42 km northwest of Sinabang town in Siemelu Island of Aceh province and 30 km beneath the earth.
But the Hong Kong Observatory said the quake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale occurred west of northern Sumatra at 16:14 (0814 GMT).
There was no damage or casualty in other places where the quake intensity was felt, such as in Meulaboh where the intensity was 6 MMI (modified mercalli intensity), an official of the agency Diana Rahayu told Xinhua.
No contact could be established immediately with the Island, she said. “We have tried to contact with our branch office in the island, but failed,” Rahayu said.
No local tsunami warning was issued, but the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a bulletin saying parts of the Sumatran coast closest to the epicenter were at risk of a possible tsunami.
Thailand’s disaster warning center issued a tsunami alert for the resort of island of Phuket and five nearby provinces after the quake.