South Asia recovers from panic over quake

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia -- A powerful earthquake struck off Indonesia's west coast late Monday, killing scores of people whose homes collapsed on them and spreading panic across the Indian Ocean that another killer tsunami was on the way. Indonesia's vice president predicted up to 2,000 deaths.

Fears of a second tsunami catastrophe in three months eased within hours, as officials in countries at risk reported their coasts clear of the type of earthquake-spawned waves that ravaged a dozen countries in Asia and Africa on Dec. 26.

Almost all the deaths reported after the 8.7-magnitude quake were on Indonesia's Nias island, a popular surfing spot off Sumatra island's west coast and close to the epicenter. Police were pulling children's bodies out of the rubble of collapsed houses, and a fire was reportedly raging in one town.

"It is predicted -- and it's still a rough estimate -- that the numbers of dead may be between 1,000 and 2,000," Vice President Jusuf Kalla told the el-Shinta radio station, saying the estimate was based on an assessment of damage to buildings.

Other estimates varied. A district official in the town of Gunungsitoli said about 300 had died there, while Indonesia's information minister said between 100 and 200 had died.

Two people were also killed in Sri Lanka during a panicky evacuation from the coast in a Tamil rebel-held area, authorities said.

19 miles under seabed

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake struck about 19 miles under the seabed, some 155 miles south-southeast of Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh province on Sumatra island. It was centered just 110 miles southeast of December's 9.0-magnitude temblor -- the world's most powerful in 40 years.

Monday's wallop, although powerful, was but a fraction of the earlier quake.

Terrified of a disaster of equal proportions, sirens sounded throughout the region as authorities issued tsunami alerts for six countries after the quake struck at 11:06 p.m. as many people were sleeping.

The quake lasted two minutes and briefly cut electricity in Banda Aceh. Thousands poured into the streets, where flickering campfires and motorbike and car headlights provided the only lighting.

The quake was felt as far away as Singapore and the Thai capital, Bangkok, more than 435 miles from the epicenter.

Nias island was badly hit on Dec. 26, when at least 340 residents were killed and 10,000 were left homeless.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said early today he would fly to the stricken island to assess the damage for himself.

The only tsunami reported was a tiny one -- 10 inches -- at the Cocos Islands, 1,400 miles west of Australia. No damage was reported.