The quake, which seismologists in Jakarta said measured about 6.0 on the Richter scale, struck shortly before 8:30 pm (1330 GMT) under the ocean 100 kilometres (62 miles) southwest of the ravaged provincial capital Banda Aceh.

There was pandemonium in many parts of the city as people fled on foot and motorcycle, pouring into the grounds of mosques -- almost all of which survived the December 26 maginitude-9.0 quake and subsequent tsunami.

"Two or three people came past on motorcycles, shouting 'the water is coming again', so that's why I'm running," said one woman in the grounds of a mosque.

In the Aceh district of Pidie, 112 kilometres to the east of Banda Aceh, witnesses described identical panic as people ran three kilometres inland from the coastal town of Sigli. There were similar reports from other areas.

Police cars were mobilised across the city, calling from loudhailers: "There is no water," urging people to return home and promising to catch those responsible for spreading the panic. There were casualty or damage reports.

Aceh has been hit by more than 200 aftershocks in the six weeks since the tsunami disaster, although most have registered under five on the Richter scale.

Indonesia is regularly subjected to earthquakes, caused by massive friction between tectonic plates shifting deep below the archipelago.

But the response to the latest tremor underscores the trauma still felt by many people in the region, which lost an estimated 243,000 people when the waves crashed ashore, sweeping away entire communities.

For some, the reassurances were not enough.

"I am afraid to go back to my house, I want to go to my relatives' home near the airport, maybe I will return tomorrow morning," said one woman clutching a small child.

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