6.1-magnitude quake hits Aceh province in Indonesia

Did you feel the tremor? The Jakarta Post reported that: A 6.1 magnitude earthquake hit Bireun in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam at 1:37 p.m. local time, on Tuesday.

Source: The Star

The strong 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia's northwestern province of Aceh causing buildings to collapse injuring at least 50 people.

The quake hit inland at 0737 GMT at a depth of just 10km (6.2 miles), 55km south of Bireun and 72km southeast of Reuleuet, the US Geological Survey said.

Any strong tremor is much feared after a massive quake struck off Aceh in 2004, sparking a tsunami that killed 170,000 people in the province on Sumatra and tens of thousands more in countries around the Indian Ocean.

Indonesia sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" where continental plates collide, causing frequent seismic and volcanic activity.

Source: The Star..Dozens injured as 6.1-magnitude quake hits Indonesia's Aceh



UPDATE:

"So far 22 people have died, 210 people were injured, and thousands of buildings and homes were damaged in the quake (on Tuesday)," National Disaster Management Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said in a text message.

The casualties were spread over the two worst-hit districts of Central Aceh and Bener Meriah, the agency said.

In Central Aceh, six children were killed and 14 others were trapped when a mosque collapsed as they were having a Koran reading session, officials in the district said.

Source: The Star..22 dead after Indonesia quake