Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

Earthquake rocks Sumatra province

|
|
 
  
Published: Jan. 4, 2008 at 5:20 PM

PADANG, Indonesia, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- An earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale struck Friday in the Indonesian province of Bengkulu on the southern coast of Sumatra.

While the quake did little damage, it was strong enough to rattle windows and shake buildings. The epicenter of the earthquake was about 45 miles offshore and 6 miles deep, Antara News Service reported.

Many residents, nervous in an area where major earthquakes have been common, reacted quickly.

"I am still traumatized," an employee of the provincial legislature said. "When I felt tremble I quickly rushed outdoors."

In September, a 7.9 magnitude earthquake killed 13 people in the province and caused millions of dollars in damage.

An earthquake measuring more than 6.0 on the Richter scale is strong enough to do significant damage in populated areas 100 miles across. Quakes of more than 7.0 magnitude are considered major and 8.0 great, both likely to take lives and bring buildings down.

Recommended Stories
© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
The Tibetan Moniam Festival in China Super Bowl XLVI ticker tape victory parade The making of the Oscars
The Chicago Auto Show The Most Desirable Women of 2012 Tu Bishvat Migron settlement
Additional Top News Stories
1 of 30
Valentine's Day Ramallah, West Bank
View Caption
fark
Can't sleep. Must eat Pope in woods. And wear his hat. Or something
What booty calls, prostitutes, cigars, the Village People have in common? They are all things FBI...
Remembering the first USAAF casualty in WW2: a nude-sunbathing, polo-playing risk-taker who once...
The government didn't regulate banks, and the economy fell. If the government decides to regulate...
If you are interacting with a police officer, it is best not to speak with your mouth full...of...
Remember how it took cops two days to show up and file a report after somebody broke into your house...