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A tsunami watch meant that it was aware of the warning but that no immediate action was required, SA Weather Service official Hannelee Doubell said.

According to reports on Wednesday, an 8.7 magnitude earthquake hit off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, putting a number of Indian Ocean countries on tsunami watch.

The tsunami watch was in effect for Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Australia, Myanmar, Thailand, the Maldives and other Indian Ocean islands, Malaysia, Pakistan, Somalia, Oman, Iran, Bangladesh, Kenya, South Africa and Singapore.

Doubell said the more the distance the waves had to travel, the smaller they became.

Reuters reports that powerful earthquakes and strong aftershocks struck off Indonesia on Wednesday.

The first quake measured 8,6 at a depth of 14,2 miles, according to the United States Geological Survey. The second quake was measured at 8,2 at a depth of 10,2 miles.  Two more strong aftershocks hit later.  

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre issued fresh tsunami warnings for the entire Indian Ocean after the aftershocks.

Individual countries issued their own tsunami warnings and people near the coast in six Thailand provinces were ordered to move to higher ground.

Authorities shut down the international airport in the Thai beach resort province of Phuket.  

Phuket is a tourist hotspot that was one of the worst hit areas in the 2004 tsunami.  

“Guests from expensive hotels overlooking Phuket’s beaches were evacuated to the hills behind and local people were driving away in cars and on motorcycles. Everyone seemed quite calm, the warning had been issued well in advance,” freelance journalist Apichai Thonoy said.

The quakes were felt as far away as southern India and Sri Lanka, where office workers in the capital, Colombo, fled their offices.  

Mahinda Amaraweera, Sri Lanka’s minister for disaster management, called for calm while advising people near the coast to seek safety. “I urge the people not to panic. We have time if there is a tsunami going to come. So please evacuate if you are in the coastal area and move to safer places,” Amaraweera told a private television channel.  

In Bangladesh, where two tremors were felt, authorities said there appeared to be no threat of a tsunami.

Australia also said there was no threat of a tsunami there.  

Comments

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Sat May 25 09:35:59 SAST 2013 ::

Apr 11, 2012

njini

YEERRRR!!!!! I live 4.6kms from the indian ocean
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Apr 11, 2012

MommaC

Very unlikely to have any effect on our coast but I hope they have put out a warning to the fishing vessels.
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Apr 11, 2012

KatakataEmaotoAditshepe

We want it here ha etle.

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Apr 11, 2012

Decibels

We will chase that tsunami away with the strongest muthi.........
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Apr 11, 2012

CheeseBoy

argh man its too far!!! whay create a panic for no reason
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Apr 11, 2012

tsayaya

Siyabonga Nomvete after donating R10 000 for tsunami victims:

"I would like to make a donation for the victims of tsunami, and i would like to thank the people who organised tsunami for doing a wonderful job"
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Apr 11, 2012

jones123456

ag not affected at all
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Apr 11, 2012

Firefly

LOL Decibels.


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Apr 11, 2012

maditaba

Tsunami watch for what reason. Somalia, Tanzania, Mozambique are closer and not on a tsunami watch.
Batho ba Mzanzi ba rata dilo man
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Apr 11, 2012

tumzangwana

we have got boMushasha in mzansi who will chase that tsunami back to where it comes from.
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