Sumatran quake triggers tsunami warning, tremors reported in Penang, Klang Valley

UPDATED @ 07:10:30 AM 12-04-2012

April 11, 2012

Screenshot of Malaysians Tweeting about tremors from Sumatran quake. JAKARTA, April 11 — Indonesia's Geophysics Agency issued an official tsunami warning, reporting aftershocks in Aceh including two earthquakes measuring 8.6 and 8.2 in magnitude respectively. This follows an earlier earthquake registering 8.7 magnitude struck off the coast of Banda Aceh on Sumatra Island, triggering tsunami warnings for the whole Indian Ocean, according to Reuters.

Malaysians also felt tremors with reports coming from Penang to parts of the Klang Valley. Tweets from Pusat Bandar Damansara, Shah Alam and Petaling Jaya noted tremors being felt, especially in apartments and other high-rise buildings including Jaya One and Menara UOA Bangsar.

The Malaysian Meteorological Department has issued warnings to avoid the coasts on the states of Kedah, Perlis, Langkawi, Penang and Perak.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC) says to expect a 17-centimetre wave to head for Aceh, warning that though the quake does not seem to be a major one, tsunamis can come in several waves.

Parts of Indonesia's Northern Sumatra coast are threatened but PTWC does not expect damage basin-wide.

According to Reuters, the quake was felt as far away as the Thai capital, Bangkok and in southern India. It happened in roughly the same area as a Dec 26, 2004 quake of 9.1 magnitude that triggered huge tsunami waves into Sumatra, with 170,000 people killed.

Indonesia's president Bambang Yudhoyono confirmed there were no casualties reported though there has been some panic among residents. A disaster relief team has already been ordered to fly to Aceh.

No tsunami warning has been made yet in Thailand, said Thai Meteorological Department deputy chief Somchai Baimoung despite tremors being felt in nearby Sri Lanka and Phuket, both areas affected by the 2004 tsunami.

Phuket International Airport has been temporarily closed, with residents of Phuket, Krabi, Ranong, Phangnga, Trang and Satun being told to evacuate to higher ground.

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