Earthquake rocks Indonesia’s Aceh province

updated 9:26 a.m. ET Oct. 5, 2005

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia - A strong earthquake rocked Indonesia’s tsunami-ravaged Aceh province on Wednesday, causing panicked residents to flee their homes and run to higher ground for fearing a tsunami.

But there were no immediate reports of serious damage or threat of tsunami.

The magnitude 5.6 quake was centered about 30 miles southeast of the provincial capital, Banda Aceh, Indonesia’s Meteorology and Geophysics office said on its Web Site.

State news agency Antara reported that scores of people ran to higher ground, fearing an impending tsunami.

“It caused panic among people. Some ran out of houses,” said local seismologist Erida Wati.

Aceh, on the northern tip of Sumatra Island, has seen almost daily earthquakes since the massive temblor on Dec. 26 that produced a deadly tsunami, killing more than 176,000 people in 11 countries. Aceh was the hardest hit spot with more than 130,000 dead.

Earthquakes of magnitude 6 and below are not considered strong enough to trigger a tsunami.

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