An earthquake measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale rocked western coastal areas of West Sumatra on Monday at about 6 a.m., ANTARA quoted a staff member of the Padang Panjang district meteorology and geophysics agency, M Fitri, as saying. Fitri said the quake which was located at the depth of 57 kilometers in the sea was felt in West Sumatra provincial capital of Padang where people rushed out of their houses due to the tremor. The epicenter of the quake was found 54 kilometers south west of Mukomuko district, Bengkulu province, on 2.95 degrees south latitude and 100.80 east longitude, Fitri said. The quake did not trigger tsunami, she said, adding that the tremor was felt by people in Padang City and other areas in West Sumatra including Pesisir Selatan, Mentawai, Pariaman and Agam Barat. No immediate reports on casualties and damages due to the quake were available till the news was released.
