6.1 magnitude earthquake rattles northeastern tip of Sumatra Island in Indonesia

2026-03-04 - 06:17

A 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck off the northeastern tip of Sumatra Island in Indonesia on Wednesday, causing panic among residents and prompting some to flee their homes. No major damage has been reported, and authorities confirmed there was no tsunami threat. Rahmat Triyono, head of the Earthquake and Tsunami Center at the Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), told Indonesian media that residents of Simeulue Island and the eastern coastal areas of Aceh province felt a strong tremor that rattled windows and doors, cracked walls, and possibly shattered glass in some homes. Residents in other areas of northeastern Sumatra felt weaker tremors. He added that authorities are continuing to monitor seismic activity in the region, noting that residents near the epicenter moved to open spaces as a precaution against aftershocks, although no major damage or injuries have been reported so far. Indonesia lies within the Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the most seismically and volcanically active regions in the world, where several major tectonic plates meet. Their interaction and constant movement cause frequent earthquakes in the Indonesian archipelago, which comprises thousands of islands, making the country one of the most seismically active in the world. — KUNA