Strong Quake Rocks Indonesia Coast

The 6.8 magnitude tremor hits near origin of 2004 tsunami

A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.8 has struck waters off western Indonesia, the U.S. geological agency has said.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake was centered 100 miles southwest of Bengkulu, a city on Sumatra island.

In December 2004, a massive earthquake off Sumatra island triggered a tsunami that battered much of the Indian Ocean coastline and killed more than 230,000 people

Indonesia is prone to seismic upheaval due to its location on the so-called Pacific "Ring of Fire," an arc of volcanos and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin.

Last week, a powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake jolted eastern Indonesia, killing at least four people, damaging hundreds of homes and briefly triggering a region-wide tsunami warning.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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