6.6 magnitude earthquake hits the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia

A strong earthquake of 6.6 magnitude hit the Indonesian province of Aceh at around 5 a.m. on Wednesday. No previous warning was given which has caused a lot of destruction. The people are uncertain about the possibilities of a tsunami.

BMKG, Indonesian meteorological, climatology and geophysical agency, has recorded five aftershocks which were felt after the earthquake. It was an undersea earthquake which shook Aceh. According to the reports of the US Geological Survey, the earthquake has its centre about 20 kilometres to the north of Reuleut and 92 kilometres to the south of Aceh.

Although the death of four people has been recorded, the extent of damage is still unknown. Sutopo Nurgoho of the National Management Agency has tweeted images of the destruction that the earthquake has caused.

Australian people are safe as the Bureau of Meteorology has confirmed that there is no possible threat of a tsunami.

No #tsunami threat to Australia from mag 6.6 #earthquake to the north of Sumatra, Indonesia. Latest info at https://t.co/Tynv3ZPROS pic.twitter.com/BcV0G1FHW7

— BOM Australia (@BOM_au) December 6, 2016

The year 2004 witnessed a massive earthquake of 9.1 magnitude which struck the northern coast of Sumatra. The tsunami that followed killed thousands of people in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand and India.