India has issued tsunami warning for coastal regions following the massive earthquake that hit Indonesia on Wednesday.
Coastal regions of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands have been put on alert on fear that the 8.7 magnitude earthquake in Indonesia could trigger tsunami in the Indian Ocean.
Tamil Nadu DGP said that people have been asked to stay away from the beach. Andhra Pradesh has also issued warning to fishermen not to go out in the sea, and Andaman and Nicobar Joint Command too has been alerted.
In the meantime, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said that tsunami is unlikely to happen in the Indian Ocean. Union Home secretary also asked the people not to panic, as Indian coastal line is unlikely to be affected.
A tsunami watch has been issued to 28 countries by the tsunami centre.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii has issued a tsunami alert in countries like Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Australia, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Pakistan, Somalia, Oman, Iran, Bangladesh, Kenya, South Africa, Singapore, the Maldives and other Indian Ocean islands.
An earthquake with a magnitude of 8.7 Richter scale hit waters off westernmost Aceh province, Indonesia, on Wednesday. Indonesia has issued Tsunami warning following the tremor, which is the largest in 100 years.
There were no reports of casualties or damage from the huge earthquake.
Tremors were felt in Indian cities like Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Patna, Vizag, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Cuttack, Bhubaneshwar and several other places in coastal areas following the massive earthquake in Indonesia.
The US Geological Survey said that the quake struck 308 miles (500 km) southwest of the city of Banda Aceh, on the northern tip of Indonesia's Sumatra Island, at a depth of 20.5 miles (33 km).
Indonesia's disaster management agency said power was down in Aceh province and people were gathering on high ground as sirens warned of the danger.
Meanwhile, Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said that there is no tsunami threat.
"There is no tsunami threat although we are on alert," Reuters quoted President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as saying. "The situation in Aceh is under control, there's a little bit of panic but people can go to higher ground," he added.
(With Inputs from Reuters)
