5 months ago
JAKARTA, Indonesia - A powerful underwater earthquake has rocked western Indonesia today.
The quake sent people running from their homes and triggered a tsunami alert for countries along the Indian Ocean.
The U.S. Geological Survey says the quake had a preliminary magnitude of 7.9.
An Indonesian television network reports that buildings have collapsed in the coastal city of Padang, in Southern Sumatra province.
Witnesses tell local television hundreds of houses have come down and telephone lines are not working.
Indonesia's meteorological agency says the quake had a preliminary magnitude at 7.6 and hit 30 miles off the coast of Padang, along the same fault line the spawned the massive 2004 Asian tsunami.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has issued a tsunami alert for Indonesia, Malaysia, India and Thailand. There are no reports of high waves.
The Associated Press
