A powerful earthquake jolted western Indonesia early today, killing a man and sending panicked residents fleeing from homes in towns and villages across Sumatra island’s northern tip.

A strong earthquake measuring magnitude 6.2 has struck off the coast of western Indonesia, but there is no danger of a tsunami, officials said.

Rumours of another killer wave sparked mass panic today in the town hardest hit by the Indonesian tsunami, while the death toll rose to 531, with more than 270 missing.

Indonesia was rocked by a powerful earthquake today that caused panic and damaged dozens of homes, as the government and Aceh’s rebels prepared for talks to help rebuild the tsunami-shattered province.