Moderate Earthquake Hits North Sumatra

Moderate earthquake hits Indonesia, tremors felt in Malaysia.

Kuala Lumpur, 18 Rabiul Akhir 1438/17 January 2017 (MINA) – A moderate earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale hit northern Sumatra, Indonesia, Monday evening, Bernama reported.

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The Indonesian Agency for Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysics (BMKG) in a statement said the epicentre of the quake was about 35 kilometres southwest of Binjai, Indonesia, and 264 kilometres southwest of Lumut, Perak.

Tremors from the 8.42pm quake was felt in Peninsular Malaysia, the statement said.

There were no immediate reports of major damage or casualties.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) estimated the quake’s magnitude at 5.7 and said it struck Monday evening at a depth of 10km southwest of Medan.

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Susanti, a guest at a hotel in Medan, said by phone that she and dozens of other people ran outside after the quake struck.

She said, “I saw utility poles swaying. It was so scary.”

Indonesia is a frequent victim of earthquakes adn volcanic eruptions because it ies near an intersection of shifting tectonic plates, including the Pacific plate, Eurasian plate, Australian plate and Philippine plate.

The United States Geological Survey describes the Indonesian region as one of the most seismically active zones on earth. (T/RS05/RS01)

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Mi’raj Islamic News Agency