TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

7.3 Quake Hits Off Indonesia

ADVERTISEMENT

The Associated Press

Published: February 25, 2008

LOS ANGELES - Authorities say the West Coast of the United States is not at risk for a tsunami after a strong earthquake struck off Sumatra Island in Indonesia.

The National Weather Service said an undersea quake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.3 struck at 12:37 a.m. PST Monday.

Indonesia's geophysics agency said the quake has the "potential" to cause a tidal wave.

But U.S. officials said California, Oregon, Alaska and Washington state are not expected to be at risk for one and no warning watch or advisory is in effect for these areas.

The quake was centered in the Indian Ocean around 96 miles from the coastal town of Bengkulu, Indonesia's geophysics agency said. It was a very shallow 6 miles below the surface.

Residents in Bengkulu and the nearby town of Mukomuko said they felt the quake strongly, but that it did not appear to have caused major damage or injuries in the region, which late Sunday was also hit by a strong tremblor.

The geophysics agency issued a tsunami bulletin, but canceled it after determining no large waves were generated.

Indonesia straddles a series of active fault lines and is prone to seismic and volcanic activity. A giant earthquake along the same coast spawned the tsunami that killed more than 230,000 people in several countries in December 2004.

Indonesia does not have equipment to measure changes in sea level that would indicate an actual tsunami was on its way. Agencies routinely issue warnings when shallow offshore quakes with a magnitude of 6.5 or above strike.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT