Quake hits Sumatra, tremors felt in Singapore
Posted: 06 March 2007 1229 hrs

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JAKARTA : A 6.3-magnitude earthquake hit Indonesia's Sumatra island on Tuesday, damaging houses and causing panic and a power cut, but there were no immediate reports of casualties, reports said.

The quake struck at 10:49am (0349 GMT), the US Geological Survey said, and was felt in cities including Bukit Tinggi, West Sumatra, where power cuts were reported.

It caused panic as people fled buildings, and houses were damaged in Solok, south of Bukit Tinggi, reports said.

Indonesian police said at least four people were killed in the quake.

The quake was also felt in Singapore.

It occurred in a mountainous area 49 kilometres (30 miles) northeast of the West Sumatra capital Padang, the US organisation said.

Indonesia's national Meteorology and Geophysics Agency estimated the quake at a lower magnitude of 5.8.

The Indonesian archipelago sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire where continental plates meet, causing frequent seismic and volcanic activity. - AFP/ch