Sumatra Indonesia Earthquake Updates

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Jakarta, Indonesia (GaeaTimes.com) Sumatra, Northwest island of Indonesia was hit by a 7.7 magnitude earthquake on Wednesday. A brief Tsunami warning was issued and resident were sent for higher grounds. At least 46 people were killed in the west of Indonesian island of Java. It is reported that at least 110 wounded and 50 were missing from two villages in West Java province that includes the resort deTasikmalaya.

Most people were killed as their houses collapsed on them. About 40 people are reported to be trapped under rocks and earth after the mudslide happened. The death toll may rise at the coastal areas. These areas have been completely separated after the earthquake.

The earthquake started at around 5:15 a.m. local time, 22:15 GMT. The epicenter of the quake was allegedly located at 125 miles or 205 km northwest of Sibolga in Sumatra. The center was at a depth of 28.6 miles or 46 km, according to USGS. An early measurement of the quake was reported to be of 7.8 magnitude.

Thailand’s National Disaster Warning Center issued a high risk warning of Tsunami on the Andaman Coast. In 2004, a Tsunami killed about 5,400 people in the same area. No destructive Tsunami is reported so far resulting from the trembler.

Electricity was out in the Acehnese capital of Banda Aceh. However cell phones were working.

Back in 2004, at least 168,000 people were killed by the gigantic Tsunami waves after a 9.3 magnitude earthquake split the seabed in the island’s west part. In recent past, a 7.6 magnitude earthquake killed about 1,000 people in Sumatra in September, 2009.