Indonesia’s Sumatra Island has been hit by a 6.2 magnitude earthquake killing at least two people and causing tremors across Singapore and Malaysia.
The quake struck inland on Feb. 25, near the west coast of the island, however, there was no report of major damage or possible tsunamis, according to BMKG, the country’s geophysics agency.
Residents were forced to flee buildings in the city of Padang in West Sumatra. Evacuations were also triggered in nearby Malaysia.
“We continue to monitor and advise people to remain on alert,” Dwikorita Karnawati, the head of BMKG told MetroTV.
At least two people were killed and some buildings including homes, a bank, and a government office were damaged.
About 17 kilometres from the epicentre in West Pasaman, a hospital was evacuated.
“People gathered outside their homes and workplaces. They were scared of the tremors. Cables were shaking,” Frans Kiky Nainggolan, a shopkeeper living in Riau province, said in comments obtained by Reuters.
Hilfa Akmal, a resident in Subang Jaya around Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur, said they felt tremors for “one or two minutes.”
“We evacuated fast and others from another floor also,” she told Reuters.
Meanwhile, Singapore police also reported tremors but no injuries.
Indonesia sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” and experiences regular earthquakes.
