An 8.6-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Northern Sumatra in Indonesia at 2:38 p.m., the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said Wednesday (April 11).
The earthquake, with a depth of 22.9 km (14.2 miles), prompted a tsunami warning. USGS had initially reported it as an 8.9 and an 8.7-magnitude quake.
According to the US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, the earthquake of such magnitude has the potential to generate a widespread destructive tsunami that can affect coastlines across the entire Indian Ocean basin.
The earthquake fortunately generated only small tsunamis that hit Indonesia and Thailand, with waves of up to 80 centimeters (31 inches) in Aceh. No damage or casualties have been reported.
