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Magnitude 7.1 Earthquake Strikes Off
Sumatra's Coast (Update1)

By Emma O'Brien

Oct. 25 (Bloomberg) -- A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck west of
the Indonesian island of Sumatra today, according to the U.S.
Geological Survey. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the quake
may cause a local tsunami.

The earthquake occurred at 4:02 a.m. local time, 135 kilometers
(84 miles) from the town of Bengkulu on Sumatra at a depth of 30
kilometers, the USGS said an e-mailed alert. The epicenter was 655
kilometers south-southwest of Singapore. There were no immediate
reports of damage or casualties.

``A destructive widespread tsunami threat does not exist,'' the
Warning Center said. ``However, there is a possibility of a local
tsunami that could affect coasts located usually no more than 100
kilometers from the earthquake epicenter.''

Indonesia lies in a zone where four tectonic plates meet. These
plates constantly shift, sometimes causing earthquakes that can
produce tsunamis. The area has been rattled by hundreds of tremors
since an 8.4 magnitude quake, the world's strongest in 2 1/2 years,
struck offshore from Sumatra on Sept. 12, leaving at least 23 people
dead.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said in an e-mail statement there
is a ``very small possibility of a destructive local tsunami'' in
the Indian Ocean.

A quake off the coast of Aceh in northern Sumatra in December
2004 caused a tsunami that devastated coastal communities in
countries across the Indian Ocean, killing more than 220,000 people.

To contact the reporter on this story: Emma O'Brien in Wellington
on [email-masked]

Last Updated: October 24, 2007 18:56 EDT

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