INDIA has issued a tsunami warning for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, located in the Indian Ocean, after a massive earthquake off the coast of Sumatra.
The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Service issued a red high-level warning for the islands, and also put out lower alerts for the coasts of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
A tsunami warning was issued for the whole Indian Ocean after an earthquake of 8.7 magnitude struck off the coast of Indonesia, sending residents there and in India dashing out of their homes and offices in fear.
The quake struck 308 miles (500 km) southwest of the city of Banda Aceh, on the northern tip of Sumatra island, at a depth of 20.5 miles (33 km), the US geological survey said.
The quake was felt as far away as the Thai capital, Bangkok, and in southern India, residents said. Hundreds of office workers in Bangalore left their buildings, workers there said.
The quake was in roughly in the same area as the December 26, 2004, quake of 9.1 magnitude, which sent huge tsunami waves crashing into Sumatra, where 170,000 people were killed, and across the Indian Ocean.
In all, the 2004 tsunami killed about 230,000 people in 13 Indian Ocean countries, including Thailand, Sri Lanka and India.
AFP, Reuters
India issues tsunami warning for Andaman and Nicobars
INDIA has issued a tsunami warning for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, located in the Indian Ocean, after a massive earthquake off the coast of Sumatra.
The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Service issued a red high-level warning for the islands, and also put out lower alerts for the coasts of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
A tsunami warning was issued for the whole Indian Ocean after an earthquake of 8.7 magnitude struck off the coast of Indonesia, sending residents there and in India dashing out of their homes and offices in fear.
The quake struck 308 miles (500 km) southwest of the city of Banda Aceh, on the northern tip of Sumatra island, at a depth of 20.5 miles (33 km), the US geological survey said.
The quake was felt as far away as the Thai capital, Bangkok, and in southern India, residents said. Hundreds of office workers in Bangalore left their buildings, workers there said.
The quake was in roughly in the same area as the December 26, 2004, quake of 9.1 magnitude, which sent huge tsunami waves crashing into Sumatra, where 170,000 people were killed, and across the Indian Ocean.
In all, the 2004 tsunami killed about 230,000 people in 13 Indian Ocean countries, including Thailand, Sri Lanka and India.
