A powerful earthquake rocked the Indonesian island of Sumatra on Thursday but there was no reports of any casualties and damage while meteorologists played down the risk of tsunami. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake registered 6.0 on the Richter scale. Indonesian meteorologists put the magnitude at 6.1, centered closed to Nias island off the coast of Sumatra.There were some reports of panic on Nias, where hundreds of people were killed by another strong quake in March 2005. Senior Indonesian seismologist Fauzi told Jakarta-based Radio Elshinta the earthquake appeared too small to trigger a tsunami, Reuters said. A seismologist in North Sumatra province told Reuters that no damage had been reported from the closest areas to the epicentre.
"It happened near Nias island but we have not received reports of any damage from there. It has been an hour so I think there has been no indication of a coming tsunami," said Buha Simanjuntak. A government official on Nias told Reuters there was no indication of damage or casualties, but people fled homes and buildings after feeling the tremor.