Casualties reported as 7.9 magnitude earthquake strikes Indonesia, Tsunami warning lifted

Jakarta, Mar 2: A massive earthquake of magnitude 7.9 struck off the west coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra on Wednesday, the US Geological Survey said.

Some casualties are being reported, but no clear picture over death. USGS originally put the magnitude at 8.2, and then 8.1, before lowering it to 7.9.

Tsunami warning lifted:

As per a Reuters report, local news channels claimed a tsunami alert was sounded but it was called off later.

Authorities lifted a tsunami warning for Indonesia's Sumatra island that was issued following a major earthquake off the western part of the island, TVRI said on Wednesday quoting an official with the meterological agency.

Some casualties reported:

Heronimus Guru, the deputy head of operations with the National Search and Rescue Agency, was quoted by the news agency as saying, "There are some who have died."

He did not know how many, but any rescue operation will be hampered by the dark, which falls early in the tropical archipelago.

The epicenter was 808 km (502 miles) southwest of Padang, USGS said. It was 10 km (six miles) deep.

OneIndia News