Two Magnitude 8 Quakes Off Indonesia

April 11, 2012; 8:01 AM
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Epicenters of recent earthquakes off northern Sumatra. Big boxes mark two >8-magnitude quakes on April 11, 2012 (USGS Earthquake Hazards webpage)

Two extremely powerful earthquakes have shaken the floor of the Indian Ocean in quick succession off western Sumatra, Indonesia.

The first quake of 8.6 magnitude was followed about two hours later by another severe shock, preliminarily registering 8.2 magnitude, the USGS earthquake website said.

There were no immediate reports of major damage or injury.

A small tsunami of 17 cm (about 7 inches) height was generated by the first powerful temblor, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.

The first earthquake, which struck at about 2:40 p.m. Wednesday, local time, had an epicenter beneath the Indian Ocean about 270 miles southwest of Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia.

The second quake happened about two hours later at an epicenter roughly 115 miles south-southwest of the first. It also struck beneath the sea floor in deep waters of the eastern Indian Ocean.

The shaken area was site of the catastrophic Boxing Day earthquake and tsunami in 2004, which killed more than 200,000 people in the Indian Ocean basin.

The magnitude 8.6 earthquake had a focal depth of 23 km (14 miles) beneath the sea floor, the USGS said. A preliminary focal depth of 16 km (10 miles) was calculated for the second temblor.

A wider view of the 8.6-magnitude earthquake.

The quake was felt strongly in Banda Aceh, where residents spoke of "violent shaking," Australia's ABC News website said. It was felt as far away as Bangkok, Thailand, and southern India.

Banda Aceh was devastated by the tsunami that followed the 9.1 magnitude quake in 2004. Sumatra suffered a death toll of 170,000 people.

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