6.1 magnitude earthquake strikes Indonesian island of Sumatra: USGS
JAKARTA: A 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck the Indonesian island of Sumatra on Monday (April 3), shaking the homes of panicked residents but without causing any casualties or damage.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake’s epicenter was located 84 kilometers deep in the sea southwest of Padangsidempuan in northern Sumatra.
It happened around 9:59 p.m.
The Korea Meteorological Administration did not issue a tsunami warning after the earthquake, but urged residents near the epicenter to be aware of potential aftershocks.
Indonesia’s leading media outlets did not immediately report any damage or injuries, but some residents reported that their homes were shaken.
“The earthquake was quite strong and it was also long. Not as usual. This time our house shook strongly.” said Dody, a resident of North Sumatra’s North Tapanuli region, which goes by one name that many Indonesians like.
Indonesia is located on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, where tectonic plates collide and is subject to frequent seismic and volcanic activity.
On November 21, a magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck the Indonesian island of Java, killing 602 people.
