Powerful earthquake measuring 6.2 strikes Indonesia as tremors rock the Ring of Fire

Indonesia has been hit by an earthquake with a huge magnitude measuring 6.2 on the Richter Scale.

The quake hit in the sea off Sumatra, which is a large Indonesian island west of Java and is known for its tropical terrain, wildlife and volcanoes.

It hit 45 miles West of Padang, the capital of Indonesia’s West Sumatra province. 

Shaking from the quake was felt as far away as Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, which is 320 miles away from the epicentre.

It struck at 12:06am local time on Friday at a depth of about 10 km, which makes it a shallow earthquake. 

Indonesia’s meteorological agency said there was no potential for a tsunami.

Residents across the region reported feeling strong shaking, including in Kambang, Painan, Padang, Bukittinggi, and other places in Southern Sumatra. 

One resident said: ”Enough to wake me from sleep and long enough to make me panicked.”

Another witness said: “I’m now in Payakumbuh and this tremor feels quite strong. 

“Lamp shaking, and you can felt it when you are standing.”

There were no immediate reports of serious damage or casualties.

Indonesia is on the so-called ‘Pacific Ring of Fire’, an arc of fault lines circling the Pacific Basin that is prone to frequent and large earthquakes.

No tsunami warnings have been put into place as they are normally reserved for earthquakes of a magnitude 7 or higher.

Professor Max Wyss, who specialises in theoretical prognoses of injuries and fatalities expects no injuries and no fatalities.