PHUKET - Occupants of tall buildings on this southern tourist island reportedly felt tremors from a 5.1-magnitude earthquake that took place in Northern Sumatra, Indonesia, late Wednesday morning.
The quake posed no tsunami threat, according to Phuket Governor Chotnarin Kerdsom.
The quake was detected at 11.18am at a depth of 9 kilometres and centred 36km northeast of Gayo Lues, a regency of the Aceh Special Region on the Indonesian island.
The epicentre was 328km from Muang district of Satun province and 432km from Phuket, according to the Earthquake Observation Division of the Thai Meteorological Department,.
“People in high buildings could feel the tremors, but there was no damage reported. Our office will monitor closely until we are assured of safety,” said Warat Surawadee, head of the local Disaster Prevention and Mitigation office.
With a total of 19 tsunami warning towers in the province, their assessment confirmed there was no risk of a dangerous wave, said Mr Chotnarin.
According to the Indonesian news agency Antara, the strongest shaking was felt in Gayo Lues, shattering glassware and causing large objects to sway.
By 11.30, the Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency had recorded one 3.8-magnitude foreshock and two aftershocks, the largest measuring magnitude 4.3, Antara reported.
