Thaindian News

BENGKULU, INDONESIA (BNO NEWS) – A major earthquake struck Indonesia’s Sumatra on Thursday morning, the second in as many days, officials said. There was no immediate word on damage or casualties.

The earthquake, which had a preliminary magnitude of 7.0, struck at 8.52 a.m. local time, according to the country’s seismological agency. The United States Geological Survey reported the earthquake as a 6.8-magnitude. It’s epicenter was located about 6 to 15 miles deep, according to preliminary readings, making it an extremely shallow earthquake. Shallow earthquakes often tend to cause more severe damage.

The earthquake struck about 96 miles north-northwest from Bengkulu on Indonesia’s Sumatra, or 141 miles southeast from Padang. Briefly after the earthquake, at 9.20 a.m. local time, an aftershock with a preliminary magnitude of 5.5 struck nearby.

The latest quake follows a series of powerful earthquakes in the region, which is also known as the “Pacific Ring of Fire.” On Tuesday, a massive 8.0 magnitude earthquake struck near the Samoa islands in the Pacific Ocean, creating deadly tidal waves that likely killed hundreds of people.

On Wednesday, a powerful 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck 30 miles from Indonesia’s Padang on Sumatra, possibly killing thousands of people.

A spokeswoman for the United States Geological Survey said that, based on the initial readings, Thursday’s earthquake was not an aftershock to Wednesday’s earthquake as they were located too far from each other.

There was no immediate word on damage or casualties from the latest earthquake. A tsunami warning was not issued as the earthquake was located too far inland.