8.6-magnitude quake in Indonesia, near Aceh

MANILA, Philippines (4th UPDATE) – An 8.6-magnitude quake was recorded off the coast of Sumatra in Indonesia, media reports said. The quake was centered 30 kilometers under the sea and about 495 kilometers from Banda Aceh, Indonesia.

The quake at 2.38 pm Wednesday, April 11, initially pegged at 8.9 magnitude, triggered an Indian Ocean tsunami watch.

At least 28 countries were under the tsunami watch, including Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and India, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. The Center later lifted the tsunami watch for most of the Indian Ocean except Indonesia, India and several islands. 

The Philippines is not included in the tsunami watch. Philippine authorities have allayed fears of a tsunami in the country.

Quakes of such magnitude “have the potential to generate a widespread destructive tsunami that can affect coastlines across the entire Indian Ocean basin,” the center added.

The tsunami warning center said it had not yet ascertained whether a tidal wave had been generated but that one was likely given the strength of the temblor, and advised local authorities to take “appropriate action.”

Tremors have been felt in Singapore, Thailand and southern India, the BBC said.

Aceh felt a 6.5-magnitude aftershock, according to reports. The shakemap below from the US Geological survey, shows the groundshaking felt in areas affected by the recent earthquake.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) initially said the earthquake had a magnitude of 8.7 off the west coast of northern Sumatra in Indonesia and near Banda Aceh. 

On December 26, 2004 a 9.2-magnitude earthquake off Sumatra generated a catastrophic tsunami that wrought devastation across southern Asia, killing an estimated 220,000 people.

Last year, a 9.0-magnitude earthquake caused a tsunami and nuclear disaster in Japan, killing some 19,000 people. – with reports from Agence France-Presse