Strong aftershocks rocked Indonesia early on Thursday after a massive undersea earthquake sparked fears of a region-wide disaster similar to the 2004 Indian Ocean quake and tsunami that killed more than 200,000 people. There were no reports of deaths or damage to buildings from Wednesday night’s 7.8 magnitude quake, which caused panic in the Sumatran island port of Padang as people tried to reach higher ground when a tsunami warning was issued. No tsunami occurred.
Daily life resumed as normal at daybreak in Padang, a city of around 1 million people, and there were few visible signs of damage. The National Meteorological Agency said there were six aftershocks during the night, but called for calm as they were diminishing in strength. “We do not believe that there will be an earthquake of greater strength,” it said on its Twitter account. “And so residents are urged to keep calm and not be taken in by rumors.” READ MORE
