Strong Earthquake and Tsunami Alert in Indonesia

The meteorological and geophysical agency of Indonesia issued a tsunami warning yesterday (January 10, 2012) after a 7.3 magnitude earthquake hit northern Sumatra.
Even though no wave had been detected, the tsunami warning was later issued. But due to panic, many residents fled their houses and went to higher grounds.

U.S. Geological Survey said that the earthquake was 420 km (260 miles) southwest of Bandah Aceh, Indonesia. You can see in the map below where that quake took place:


But it had been felt in northern and western Sumatra. Many local people in Banda Aceh rattled and ran away in panic from building after they heard the news of the tsunami alert and the earthquake.

No damage in the provincial capital was seen, some local witnesses said.

There's a witness at the in Bandah Aceh that said that the sea level had dramatically decreased after the earthquake, the same as what happened before 2004 earthquake in Aceh that caused Tsunami and killed more than 200,000 people around Indian Ocean.

Alfan, a Bandah Aceh resident, joined other locals (about 100 people) gathered on a bridge in the town to watch the surface of a river to see if there was any sudden change in its water level. At that moment , they remained nervous about a big wave (tsunami) reaching shore. - https://www.affordablecebu.com/