8.7 quake off Aceh triggers tsunami alert

Indonesia issued a tsunami warning after a powerful 8.7 earthquake struck off its westernmost province Aceh, leading panicked locals to scramble out of their houses to seek refuge. The US Geological Survey (USGS) says the quake was detected 33 kilometres beneath the ocean floor about 495 kilometres south-west of Banda Aceh. The quake was felt as far away as Singapore, Thailand and India. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre says a tsunami watch has been issued for the entire Indian Ocean. The Reuters news agency is reporting that India\'s tsunami warning centre said waves measuring up to six metres were expected along parts of its eastern coast, which was heavily hit by the 2004 tsunami. Smaller waves were expected to hit the remote Andaman and Nicobar islands. The Bureau of Meteorology says no tsunami warning has been issued for the Australian mainland. A giant 9.1-magnitude quake off Indonesia on December 26, 2004, triggered a tsunami in the Indian Ocean that killed 230,000 people, nearly three-quarters of them in Aceh. More to come.