Earthquake jolts Bengkulu

Earthquake jolts Bengkulu

Jakarta: A 5.0-magnitude earthquake jolted Bengkulu province
late on Monday, but there were no reports of structural damage or
injuries, officials said on Tuesday.

The quake shook Bengkulu province, located on the southwestern
edge of Sumatra island, at about 11 p.m. on Monday, said Edison
Gurning, an official at the national earthquake center.

Gurning said the epicenter was about 14 kilometers from the
district town of Argamakmur -- over 600 kilometers northwest of
Jakarta -- and about 80 kilometers underground.

The earthquake paled in comparison to the powerful earthquake
measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale that jolted Bengkulu in June
2000, and killed at least 94 people, with hundreds more injured
and thousands of buildings destroyed. -- dpa