Aceh Earthquake Claims Four Lives, Damages Several Building

Muereudu, Aceh, (Antara)- An earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter Scale rocked Pidie Jaya (Pijay) District, Aceh Province, and claimed four lives on Wednesday.

The earthquake also destroyed several houses and places of worship and at least 30 people were injured, Head of the Pijay disaster mitigation office (BPBD) Puteh A Manaf said.

"Several mosques, other public facilities and houses collapsed due to the earthquake, but we still don't have the exact number of how many buildings damaged," he added.

The epicenter of the quake was located at 5.19 degrees northern latitude and 96.36 degrees eastern longitude, at a depth of 10 km, and some 18 km northeast of Pidie Jaya.

The tremor occurred at 5:03 a.m. local time and was felt in Pidie Jaya, Pidie, Aceh Besar, Sabang, Bireun, and Lhokseumawe.

"Following the 6.4-magnitude earthquake, there were four aftershocks, but having no potential to trigger a tsunami. However, the public are advised to stay vigilant against more aftershocks," head of the Sabang meteorology office, Siswanto, said.(*)