Thailand issues tsunami warning

Thai officials have issued a warning of a possible tsunami after an 8.2 magnitude earthquake struck in the sea off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia.

It is three months since a tsunami devastated parts of Indonesia and other countries in the region.

Today's quake occurred at a depth of nearly 19 miles, the USGS, said. Japan’s Meteorological Agency measured the quake at magnitude 8.5.

Tremors were felt throughout peninsular Malaysia's west coast, causing thousands of residents to flee high-rise apartment buildings and hotels. There were no immediate reports of any casualties or major damage.

“I was getting ready for bed, and suddenly, the room started shaking,” said Kuala Lumpur resident Jessie Chong. ”I thought I was hallucinating at first, but then I heard my neighbours screaming and running out.”

The magnitude-9 undersea earthquake, the world’s biggest in 40 years, and the huge tsunami it sent charging across the Indian Ocean at the speed of a passenger jet killed more than 174,000 people and left another 106,000 missing.

More than 1.5 million people were left homeless in 11 countries.