Massive Earthquake Rocks Indonesian Province
The Associated Press
Published: Nov 2, 2002
ap.tbo.com
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - A massive earthquake rocked parts of Indonesia's Aceh province Saturday, and reports said it had a magnitude of up to 7.7. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.
Indonesia's Meteorology and Geophysics Agency said the quake was magnitude 5.3, but the U.S. Geological Survey and the Hong Kong Observatory said the quake registered 7.5.
Australian scientists said it registered magnitude 7.7, which makes it a major earthquake capable of widespread, heavy damage. There were reports of people panicking and running into the streets in the provincial capital.
"It's about the same magnitude of the very destructive Gujarat quake in India two years ago," which killed 13,000 people, said Mark Leonard of Geoscience Australia.
He said the temblor was not likely to be as destructive as that quake because it was offshore. The USGS Web site said the quake was located 13 miles off the coast of northern Sumatra.
However, Indonesian seismologist Karyono said the 8:26 a.m. quake was centered onshore, about 20 miles north of Singkil town in Aceh, on the island of Sumatra.
Aceh province is about 1,100 miles northwest of Jakarta.
Karyono, who like many Indonesians uses only one name, said the quake struck in marshland with no inhabitants.
But tremors lasting several seconds were felt up to 300 miles away at the provincial capital, Banda Aceh, where people panicked and ran out of buildings, witnesses said.
Indonesia, the world's largest archipelago nation, is prone to seismic upheaval because of its location on the so-called Pacific "Ring of Fire."
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On the Net:
U.S. Geological Survey: usgs.gov
AP-ES-11-02-02 0036EST |
