No casualties reported as quake hits Indonesia's Sumatra

JAKARTA (AFP) Nov 05, 2003
An earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale shook Indonesia's Bengkulu province in southern Sumatra but there were no immediate reports of casualties, the state Antara news agency said Wednesday.

The epicentre of the quake, which came at 1:45 am (1645 GMT Tuesday), was in the Indian Ocean southwest of the province, said Armien Paimin, head of the local geophysics agency.

There have already been three other quakes in Bengkulu this month, Paimin said.

Dozens died when an earthquake struck the province in 2000.

The Indonesian archipelago is one of the world's most earthquake-prone regions, sitting on the so-called "Pacific Rim of Fire" noted for its volcanic and seismic activity.

TERRA.WIRE