Indonesians panicked after the earthquake

Indonesia removed the tsunami warning after a magnitude 8.7 earthquake, causing panic and turmoil in the country's island of Sumatra yesterday.

>>>Video: The Indonesian people panicked because of the earthquake

"Everyone can return home," said Sri Woro Harijono, director of the Indonesian Meteorological and Geophysical Agency (BMKG).

The intense seismic movement shook Sumatra island at 14:38 local time yesterday. The epicenter is located at a depth of 33km, about 431km from Banda Aceh city in northern Sumatra. Tsunami warnings have been issued for the entire Indian Ocean region.

The strong earthquake left Indonesians recalling the 2004 earthquake, killing 170,000 people in Aceh province. They ran away from their homes and offices, pouring out of the streets and immediately using all means to flee the coastal areas after the earthquake. The aftershock then measured an intensity of 8.2 on the Richter scale.

Three girls in Aceh panicked and hugged each other and prayed when the earthquake struck. (Photo: AFP)

'Everyone in the village fled outside. The ground shook violently for 5 minutes. We were all terrified, screaming and crying women and children, " Asnawi, 42, from Malasin village, Simeulue island, 150 kilometers from the west coast of Sumatra, recounted. 'I went out but my 11-year-old wife and daughter stayed in the house. I shouted to them to go out immediately because I was afraid my house would collapse. '

Malasin fishing village on Simeulue island is close to the epicenter of the earthquake. Electricity has been cut and all villagers have brought their family's precious assets out of the house and lived in the dark. The island's 80,000 people know very well the horrific destruction of the tsunami by one-fifth of the Simeulue islanders were killed in the 2004 earthquake.

Dewi Phoennadiyani, who manages the resort on the island, said some of her staff had spent the night on the hill and only returned home the next morning if they knew the situation was fine. The houses in Malasin were all rebuilt after the tsunami in 2004 but they were all made of wood, so they were easily destroyed.

At least three tsunamis have hit the Indonesian coast after the first earthquake, the highest in Meulaboh, Aceh province with an altitude of 80cm. Other small tides are also recorded in nearby seas. AFP reporter on Simeulue island said people were less relieved to see the one-meter high wave flooding the shore and withdrawing.

However, Indonesian authorities canceled the tsunami warning soon after the US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center moved the tsunami warning of the entire Indian Ocean region to about 20 countries and territories. . There have been no reports of significant damage and casualties.

Sumatra is also home to a seismic shock of 9.1 on the Richter scale, causing tsunamis across the Indian Ocean, killing about 220,000.