At least 3 killed 25 seriously injured in powerful quake in Indonesia

JAKARTA, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- At least three people were killed and 25 others seriously injured in Siemelu island of Aceh province after a powerful earthquake with rattled the province in northern tip of Sumatra Island on Wednesday, health ministry said here.

Head of the crisis center of the ministry Rustam Pakaya said that the victims were struck by the collapsed buildings.

"Three people were killed and 25 others suffered serious injury," he told Xinhua.

The death toll was expected to rise as the searching has been underway and many buildings collapsed, said Pakaya.

"Telecommunication cut has hampered for coordination on the rescue," he said.

The quake measuring 6.6 on the Rechter scale struck at 15:08 Jakarta time (0808 GMT) with epicenter 42 kilometers northwest Sinabang town in Siemelu Island of the province and 30 kilometers beneath the earth, meteorology agency said.

Siemelu island is the closest with the epicenter, according to the meteorology agency.

JAKARTA, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- A powerful earthquake jolted Seumeulu Island in Indonesia's Aceh province Wednesday, but there were no immediate reports of damage and casualties.

The Indonesian meteorology and geophysics agency said in a report that the quake was measured 6.6 on the Richter scale and struck at 15:08 Jakarta time (0808 GMT) with epicenter at 42 kilometers northwest Sinabang town in Siemelu Island of the province and 30 kilometers beneath the earth. Full story

BANGKOK, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's disaster warning center Wednesday issued a tsunami alert after a powerful quake with a magnitude of 7.6 rocked Indonesia's Sumatra island.

The tsunami alert was issued for the resort island of Phuket and five nearby provinces, said the National Disaster Warning Center in a statement. Full story

JAKARTA, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Telecommunication was cut at the hardest-hit area of Sinabang town in Siemelu island of Aceh province after a powerful earthquake hit the area, Indonesian meteorology and geophysics agency and the National Disaster Management Agency said here Wednesday.

The Indonesian meteorology and geophysics agency said in a report that the quake was measured 6.6 on the Richter scale and struck at 15:08 Jakarta time (0808 GMT) with epicenter at 42 kilometers northwest Sinabang town in Siemelu Island of the province and 30 kilometers beneath the earth. Full story