9/12/2007

in

Multiple Earthquakes hit Indonesia claiming the lives of six.

Tamikka Malloy

A shallow earthquake, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said had a magnitude of 7.8, hit Indonesia's Sumatra coast on Thursday killing six and perhaps more.  
  
Tsunami warnings were issued, but later lifted for Indian Ocean rim countries after the latest aftershocks.  
  
"We can expect aftershocks to continue for some time," USGS Geophysicist Dale Grant told Reuters.  
  
The tremors sowed fresh panic among residents in Padang, the capital of West Sumatra. The town was thrown into chaos and many fled after the initial 8.4-magnitude quake, which the USGS said was the most powerful in the world this year.  
  
"I saw buildings collapse and one person lost consciousness after the morning quake, said "Eri Kamra.  
  
A Reuters witness said that a four-story car showroom had collapsed, trapping several staff, and some injured people had to be moved out of hospital wards to the relative safety of tents.  
  
Part of Padang's main hospital had also collapsed.  
  
The crisis center's latest casualty figures showed that six people were killed and 40 injured after the first quake, which was also felt in neighboring Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia.  
  
Indonesia suffers frequent quakes, as it lies on an active seismic belt on part of the so-called Pacific "Ring of Fire."