Aceh Hit By Strong Quake Again

JAKARTA, April 12 (Bernama) -- Following a powerful 8.5 magnitude earthquake Wednesday afternoon and a series of strong aftershocks till late into the night, Aceh was stuck by a 5.3 magnitude tectonic quake Thursday. The quake hit 442km off southwest of Sabang at the depth of 124km at 7.29am. Meteorological Geophysics, Climatology and Geophysics Agency geophysics chief (Kepahaing, Bengkulu station) Dadang Permana said 25 aftershocks with a magnitude of over five on the Richter scale occurred after a powerful quake Wednesday afternoon. The strongest aftershock with a magnitude of 8.3 on the Richter scale, which had the potential of causing tsunami, occurred on at 5.45pm Wednesday, two hours after the first quake. The quake, which rattled Simeulue, could trigger aftershocks and residents along the coastal areas in the Aceh, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, Bengkulu and Lampung have been asked to be ready for any eventualities. -- BERNAMA