Mild quake hits Padang

PADANG, West Sumatra: An earthquake measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale jolted the West Sumatra capital of Padang and its vicinity for about five seconds at 12:30 noon local time on Tuesday.

No casualties or damages were reported in the tremor, which was not even felt by some residents.

Head of the Padang Panjang-based meteorological and geophysics office, Sudadi, told Antara that the quake's epicenter was located in the town of Alahan Panjang in the Solok district, 110 kilometers southeast of Padang Panjang, or 80 kilometers away from here.

He said the tremor measured 2 on the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) scale in Padang Panjang and about 3 MMI in Padang. People only feel a quake if it is scaled at least at 3 MMI. (amd)