Post by : Rameen Ariff

A powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck Sumatra Island in Indonesia on Wednesday, adding to the country’s struggles with severe floods and landslides. The earthquake occurred near Aceh province at a depth of 10 kilometres and, fortunately, has no potential to trigger a tsunami. No casualties or property damage have been reported from the quake so far.

Indonesia is part of the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” making it highly prone to earthquakes and volcanic activity. The latest earthquake comes at a time when the region is battling heavy floods caused by Cyclone Senyar, which hit the area earlier this week.

The flash floods, mainly affecting North Sumatra province, have already claimed at least 28 lives, while dozens of people are reported missing. Rescue teams are working to reach isolated communities, but damaged roads and continuous rainfall are slowing relief operations.

Incessant rain over the past two days caused rivers in North Sumatra to overflow, sending mud, rocks, and debris into several areas. Homes were submerged, forcing families to flee to higher ground. In Central Tapanuli, landslides destroyed multiple houses, while flooding in the area affected nearly 2,000 homes. In South Tapanuli, falling trees led to the deaths of eight people. Authorities have relocated over 2,800 residents to temporary shelters for safety.

Indonesia experiences heavy rainfall between October and March, which often triggers floods and landslides. Millions living along floodplains or on steep hillsides remain vulnerable to such natural disasters.

The government and local authorities continue rescue and relief operations, while residents are urged to stay alert to further weather warnings and aftershocks.

#Earthquake News #World News