At least 22 people were confirmed dead when a struck strong earthquake of magnitude 6.2 struck the Indonesian province of Aceh on Tuesday. Among those killed were four children and more than 200 were left injured.
The quake was 10 km (6 miles) deep and hit 188 km (116 miles) south-east of Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh, according to the US Geological survey. The quake did not have the potential to set off a tsunami, caused extensive damage in Bener Meriah and Central Aceh districts.
Twelve people in Bener Meriah district and 10 in Central Aceh were killed due to landslides and building collapse. In Central Aceh, more than 300 houses were damaged and a road cracked open.
The road cuts are hampering rescue operations. Indonesian authorities have deployed a helicopter and a plane in the region. The province is experiencing power outage now and unreliable communication services, reported BBC.
The northern tip of Sumatra Island, Aceh, has witnessed several such natural disasters. In 2004, a massive earthquake of magnitude 9.1 set off a tsunami killing around 170,000 people in the province. A major earthquake in September 2009 near Padang city of Sumatra killed more than a 1,000 people.
Last year, an earthquake measuring 8.6 in magnitude triggered a tsunami alert. It struck 431 km off Banda Aceh, killing five people and injuring seven.
The country is prone to frequent seismic and volcanic activity as it is located on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" where tectonic plates collide.
