A 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck off the Indonesian island of Sumatra on Thursday morning but there were no reports of damage. The US Geological survey (USGS) said the tremors were also felt across Singapore in areas including Bukit Panjang, Siglap, Punggol and Toa Payoh.
According to the USGS, the earthquake was initially rated 6.2 magnitude and the epicentre was about 155 kilometres south of Padang at a depth of about 40 kilometres. There were no reports of damage or injury immediately.
The quake took place at 5.56am local time (6.56am, Singapore time), shortly before dawn and lasted about 30 seconds.
Residents rushed out of their houses but life returned to normal very quickly.
Channel News Asia reported that after the earthquake there were electricity outage in some places but power was restored shortly afterwards.
Wandono, a senior official from Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency, told the Channel News Asia that the earthquake did not have the potential to cause a tsunami. He said, "So far we have not received any reports of damage."
Phil Cummins, senior seismologist at Geoscience Australia, said: "People would have felt it and there may be some minor damage, but it was offshore and deep so damage would be limited."
Indonesia is situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire which is known for collision of the tectonic plates that makes it vulnerable to frequent seismic and volcanic activities.
