Moderate intensity tremors in LoC region, Sumatra

New Delhi, Mar 19: An earthquake of moderate intensity rocked the Line of Control (LoC) region this morning (Mar 19, 2006)but there were no reports of casualties or damage to property.

Two moderate tremors also jolted the Sumatra region of Indonesia this morning.

The 5.2 magnitude earthquake in the LoC region was felt at 0819 hrs, Indian Meteorological Department said.

According to Reuters, the quake was felt in Balakot, a town flattened by the devastating October 8 earthquake which killed more than 70,000 people in Pakistan and India, as well as in the capital Islamabad and several other northern cities and towns.

Both the tremors which were epicentered off the west coast of Sumatra measured above 5 on the Richter scale. The first earthquake was felt at 0955 hrs and measured 5.1 while a 5 magnitude quake shook the west coast of Northern Sumatra 12 minutes later, IMD said.

The Sumatra region was the epicentre of the 9 magnitude temblor on December 26 that triggered the killer tsunami. More than 200,000 people were killed in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and other Indian Ocean countries.

UNI