Padang, W Sumatra, (Antara)- An earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter Scale hit West Sumatra Province, on Thursday at 5:56 a.m. local time, damaging at least three houses in South Pasisir District.
The tremor' epicenter was lcoated at 79 km southwest of South Pasisir and at a depth of 72 km, Sabrul Bayang, spokesman of the South Pasisir district administration, said.
Hundreds of patients in M Djamil Hospital in Padang were evacuated outside the building as the tremor strongly shook the public hospital.
There was power blackout when the earthquake occurred. Panic-stricken residents rushed out of houses immediately.
The earthquake was also felt in several other provinces on Sumatra Island.(*)
