By DPA
Jakarta : A strong earthquake struck the western coast of Indonesia’s Sumatra Island Friday, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage to properties, a seismologist said.
The quake, measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale with an epicentre in the Indian Ocean off the western coast of Bengkulu province, struck at 2:29 p.m. (0729 GMT), Indonesia’s National Meteorology and Geophysics Agency reported. It was located about 75 km southwest of Mukomuko district city, at a depth of 10 km.
There were no immediate reports of casualties or structural damage following the quake.
“The quake was not strong enough for a tsunami,” said Andi, a seismologist with Indonesia’s National Meteorology and Geophysics Agency.
Jakarta-based Elshinta radio reported, the quake shook Mukomuko district for about five seconds, prompting residents to flee from their homes.
A powerful 8.4-magnitude quake hit western Sumatra Sep 12, killing at least 24 people and injuring scores of others.