Quake kills at least 11 in Sumatra, felt in Singapore

PADANG, Indonesia, Mar 6 (Reuters) Two strong earthquakes killed at least 11 people and injured dozens on Indonesia's Sumatra island today, and was felt as far away as Malaysia and Singapore where several buildings were evacuated.

CNN reported that the death toll had risen to at least 30.

In the West Sumatra provincial capital of Padang, the first quake of magnitude 6.3 sparked panic among seaside residents who feared it might trigger a tsunami. However, there was no immediate tsunami warning.

The United States Geological Survey said its epicentre was around 420 km from Singapore. The Indonesian national quake centre measured the quake at 5.8 on the Richter scale.

Some buildings collapsed and several homes and other buildings were badly damaged by the tremors that sent several people scrambling for safety, including 200-300 patients who ran out of a hospital in Padang, a Reuters witness said.

A second 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck the same area just two hours later, sparking fresh panic among residents.

Nine people died and several were injured in Solok town, about 40 km northeast of Padang, the Syamsu Rahim, the mayor of Solok, told El Shinta radio.

''Medical personnel are overwhelmed with the numbers of victims,'' Rahim told radio.

In Batusangkar, near the epicentre north of Padang, at least two people died, Rustam Pakaya, chief of the health ministry's crisis centre, told Reuters.

''Two children died after wreckage fell on them in Batusangkar.

Some were hurt but I haven't received an exact number,'' he said.

''It was really strong. I panicked, I ran out of the house just like the other neighbours,'' housewife Asmiarti, whose home is on the northern Padang shore, told Reuters by phone.

''When we got out, our bodies were still shaking and the trees were also shaking. We fear there would be a tsunami but there has been no announcement so far,'' she said.

Padang is one of the few Indonesian cities where a tsunami warning system is in place.

A Reuters witness said residents tried to reach higher places and their vehicles crowded main streets in Padang, triggering congested traffic across the city.

Callers told a Jakarta-based radio station that residents in several West Sumatra towns ran out of their houses when the quake was first felt, including some who said the quake knocked off roof tiles.

Tall buildings in Singapore's business district swayed slightly, occupants said, and the tremor was also felt in other parts of the island.

Traders said there was little or no impact on financial markets trading.

The tremor was also felt in west coast areas of Malaysia, the meteorological office in that country said.

REUTERS BDP SSC1333