M6.6 earthquake hits Sumatra

Last update: June 23, 2012 at 7:11 am by By Armand Vervaeck and James Daniell

UPDATE:- From the epicenter, reports are that there was major panic with people jumping out of houses, however at this point there is no damage being reported.

Many people fleed from hospitals in Singkil, scared of a collapse. They are currently outside, awaiting aftershocks.

The last major quake in the epicentral region was around a year ago, claiming a life and damaging 100s of buildings.

An intermediate depth earthquake has hit Sumatra near Aceh.  Shaking could hit a VI intensity.

The earthquake has been reported as a weak shaking tapering off quite quickly which is good news from these localities.

This earthquake was felt by people in Penang in Malaysia quite strongly.

A tsunami warning was issued, but for such a deep hypocenter it is usually unlikely that such a large tsunami would result. Only due to underwater landslides.

BMKG Shakemap of the earthquake (courtesy: BMKG)

Most important Earthquake Data:
Magnitude : Ml6.6 (BMKG)
UTC Time : 23rd June 2012
Local time at epicenter : 23rd June 2012 – 11:34:52 Indonesian WIB
Depth (Hypocenter) : 103km
Geo-location(s) : 24 km NW of KOTA-SUBULUSSALAM-NAD, 40 km NW of KAB-ACEHSINGKIL , 42 km SE of KAB-ACEHSELATAN , 127 km SW of MEDAN-SUMUT , 1417 km NW of JAKARTA-INDONESIA

for more information and updates, go to:    http://earthquake-report.com/2012/06/23/m6-6-earthquake-hits-sumatra/