Strong quake hits South Aceh

BANDA ACEH, Aceh: A strong quake measuring 5.6 on the Richter scale stunned South Aceh residents at dawn on Monday, sparking fear of the return of a tsunami along Aceh's coastline. The residents fled in panic as they feared buildings would collapse and another deadly tsunami was imminent. The quake was also felt by residents in Banda Aceh, said Yasir, an official with Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG) in Banda Aceh.

The quake epicenter was located in waters some 184 kilometers south of Tapaktuan city in South Aceh regency.

Tremors have regularly rattled Aceh province after the major quake in December last year, measuring 9.0 on the Richter scale, which triggered a tsunami along the Aceh coasts.

After the big quake last year, tremors have been felt in Aceh province between 20 and 25 times a day, said Yasir. -- Antara