A strong earthquake struck off western Indonesia early Sunday, causing panicked residents to flee their homes, officials said. The quake had a preliminary magnitude of 6.2 and was centered 28 kilometers (17 miles) from Bengkulu, a coastal town on Sumatra island, said Suhardjono, an official at the local geophysics agency. It was felt strongly for around 30 seconds in the region, causing some people to run from their homes, witnesses told El-Shinta radio. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.
