Strong quake hits near area that suffered deadly 2004 tsunami

A strong earthquake has struck off Indonesia’s Aceh province on the western tip of Sumatra island.

There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

The US Geological Survey said today’s magnitude 6.1 quake struck at a depth of 6 miles (10km) and its epicentre was located 34 miles (55km) west of the town of Bireun.

Indonesia is prone to seismic upheaval due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an arc of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Ocean.

In 2004, a huge earthquake off Aceh triggered a tsunami which killed 230,000 people across Asia.