Indonesia shakes because of strong earthquakes, at least 1 person dies

A powerful 6.6-magnitude earthquake rocked the Indonesian island of Sumatra early this morning, killing a 12-year-old boy and causing people to rush to the streets in panic.

The epicenter of the earthquake lies about 100km north of the city of Medan, the capital of North Sumatra province, on the island of Sumatra and at a depth of 110km, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).

The Pacific Ocean tsunami warning center in Hawaii said the earthquake was not in danger of causing a tsunami.

Artwork illustrating an earthquake chart.

The earthquake occurred at about 1 am local time while people were sleeping, causing people to live in villages and towns in the northern Sumatra island.

Maura Sakti, a mayor in Subulussalam, said a boy was killed by an earthquake. At least 1 person was injured.

Hundreds of people have been evacuated to shelter centers while officials have examined the earthquake damage. Some electric poles were broken, pouring into houses and causing power outages.

'My wife screamed, and my children cried,' said Burhan Mardiansyah, 37, a resident of Singkil town who was affected by the earthquake.

'I saw the walls begin to crack and everything in the house collapsed. Thankfully we are still safe , 'added Mardiansyah.

In Medan, the capital of North Sumatra province, hundreds of patients were evacuated from a hospital. People from hotels and houses pour into the streets. Fear of aftershocks, many people refused to return home.

Indonesia is located on the Pacific 'Ring of Fire' , where the collision of tectonic plates causes earthquakes and volcanoes.

In 2004, a strong earthquake of 9.1 magnitude off Sumatra caused a devastating tsunami in the Indian Ocean, killing about 230,000 people, with half of them living in Aceh province in extreme west of Indonesia.