7.8-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Mentawai Islands In Indonesia

By Azeman Ariffin JAKARTA, March 3 (Bernama) -- An earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale occurred in the waters of Mentawai Islands in West Sumatra, Indonesia, at 7.58pm (8.58pm in Malaysia) on Wednesday, forcing a tsunami warning to be issued. Television broadcasts quoted Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency chief Andi Eka Sakya as saying the agency had issued a potential tsunami warning. Television reports also said that tremors were felt up to Padang in West Sumatra province, Medan and Aceh. The coastal waters of Meulaboh in western Aceh were reported to have suddenly receded, sparking fear that a tsunami was developing. Andi said the people had been told not to panic and to adhere to orders issued. Nonetheless, thousands of villagers in the coastal areas of Padang were reported to be moving to higher ground in Kota Padang in preparation to face any eventuality in the city which was reported to be heavily congested. So far, there was no reports of any loss of life or damage to property. A Kota Padang resident, Rikawati, who lived in the Taruko area said many villagers had come out of their houses after experiencing strong tremors. Meanwhile, Education Malaysia director Dr Juzhar Jusoh, when contacted by Bernama, said all 314 Malaysian students in Aceh and 78 students in Andalas, Padang, had been ordered to move to safer ground. He said all student leaders had been informed to follow orders and Education Malaysia would be looking into the needs of the students. "We are monitoring the situation and contacting all student leaders and so far all students are adhering to instructions," he said. He said parents in Malaysia need not worry as Education Malaysia had a procedural system for any natural disaster whereby a leader was appointed for every 10 students. Juzhar said that under the system, all student leaders would ensure that their groups assembled and were safe and no one was missing. --BERNAMA