Centre lifts tsunami warning for Indonesia

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre have lifted its tsunami alert following a powerful underwater earthquake rocked western Indonesia today.

The quake had triggered a tsunami alert for countries along the Indian Ocean.

The quake had a preliminary magnitude of 7.9 according to the US Geological Survey and there were reports that buildings had collapsed in the coastal city of Padang, in Southern Sumatra province.

Indonesia’s meteorological agency said the quake hit 30 miles off the coast of Padang, along the same fault line the spawned the massive 2004 Asian tsunami.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre issued a tsunami alert for Indonesia, Malaysia, India and Thailand.

“There is a possibility of a destructive regional tsunami in the Indian Ocean,” it said.

There were no immediate reports of a high waves.

Witnesses said residents of Padang, and other town and cities, ran out of homes and buildings in fear.

“People are panicking. They are running out of the buildings... There are many collapsed buildings,” one man in Padang said.

The shaking could be felt in high buildings in the capital, Jakarta, several hundred miles away. It was also felt in neighbouring Singapore and Malaysia.