South Sumatra quake is magnitude 7.9 - USGS

WASHINGTON, Sep 13 (Reuters) A powerful quake that struck Indonesia's South Sumatra area had a magnitude of 7.9, the US Geological Survey said.

It said yesterday the quake was centered 189 km northwest of Bengkulu and 224 km southeast of Padang in Sumatra.

It was very shallow, at only 10 km deep.

The USGS initially reported the quake at magnitude 8 but later verified it at 7.9.

Reuters SZ VP0708