Mild quake jolts Tarutung

Mild quake jolts Tarutung

TARUTUNG, North Sumatra: A tectonic quake measuring 4.8 on the
Richter scale rocked the township, about 300 kilometers south of
Medan, at 11:36 a.m. yesterday.

There was no immediate report on casualties or damage caused
by the mild earthquake that lasted about 15 seconds and sent
residents out of their houses in panic, the Antara news agency
reported.

Rihwar, a spokesman for the local office of meteorology and
geophysics in Medan, said the quake had its epicenter 40
kilometers underground.

The town of 35,000 people is prone to quakes. In 1987, a quake
measuring six on the Richter scale claimed several lives and
caused damage to buildings. (pan)