6.3 magnitude quake hits Sumatra

JAKARTA, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- A strong earthquake hit the Indonesian island of Sumatra Friday morning, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

The quake measured 6.3 on the Richter scale. The epicenter was 30 miles east-southeast of Medan, Sumatra, and 850 miles northwest of the Indonesian capital, Jakarta.

There were no immediate reports on casualties or damage. The quake hit just before 11 a.m. local time, when most people would be awake and less likely to be trapped underneath their houses.

Smaller offshore quakes occurred during the weekend near Sumatra.

Earthquakes between 6 and 6.9 on the Richter scale can cause destruction through areas of about 100 miles in diameter in populated regions.