A MODERATE EARTHQUAKE STRUCK OFF THE WESTERN INDONESIAN ISLAND OF SIMEULUE ON SUNDAY, BUT THERE WERE NO IMMEDIATE REPORTS OF CASUALTIES OR DAMAGE, AN INDONESIAN OFFICIAL SAID. THE EPICENTER OF THE 5.4 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE LAY 22 KM (14 MILES) SOUTH OF SIMEULUE ISLAND IN ACEH PROVINCE AND AT A DEPTH OF AROUND 33 KM (20 MILES), A METEOROLOGY AND GEOPHYSICS AGENCY OFFICIAL IN THE PROVINCIAL CAPITAL, BANDA ACEH, TOLD REUTERS. SIMEULUE LIES WEST OF SUMATRA, ONE OF INDONESIA'S MAJOR ISLANDS, AND IS AROUND 1,200 KM (750 MILES) NORTHWEST OF THE COUNTRY'S CAPITAL, JAKARTA. THE OFFICIAL SAID THE TREMOR WAS FOLLOWED BY TWO SMALLER QUAKES, BOTH OF 4.1 MAGNITUDE, BUT CAUSED NO DAMAGE.
