The United States Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre today cancelled the tsunami watch for the Indian Ocean areas including eastern parts of India few hours after two major earthquakes hit Indonesia. First quake was measured at 8.6 on Richter Scale while second quake was slightly milder at 8.2 on scale.

The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre initially issued a warning following the 8.6-magnitude earthquake, which was later scaled down and removed in some areas of Indian Ocean. However, the warning was issued again by the USPTWC for two hours after the second earthquake of 8.2 Richter scale hit the Aceh province of Indonesia.

Few hours after the second earthquake the tsunami watch was lifted for Thailand, Myanmar, Australia and Malaysia.

Even many hours after the earthquakes hit Indonesia, people were still standing outside their homes and offices, afraid of aftershocks.

India also withdrawn the tsunami warning issued by the Earth sciences ministry and the National Disaster Management Authority after two strong earthquakes hit Indonasia. Both government agencies issued a tsuanmi warning for Andaman and Nicobar Island and an alert to coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu earlier today. Later they ruled out tsunami in Andaman and Nicobar Islands or anywhere else in the country.

The undersea earthquake that struck near the Indonesian province of Aceh on Wednesday, 11 April 2012 at 15:38 local time, left many in fear as memories of 2004 tsunami is still there when more than 170,000 people were killed following the earthquake.

This region of Indonesia previously faced the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami where the quake took place about 250 km south-south-east from Banda Aceh. Today, after the earthquake, which took place about 500 kilometers south-west from Banda Aceh, people in Indonesia and India left their homes and offices in fear.

Information about 2012 Indian Ocean earthquake:

Date: 11 April 2012

Origin time: 15:38:37 WIB (UTC+07:00) 08:38:37 (UTC)

Duration: 5 minutes

Magnitude: 8.6 MwDepth: 22.9 km (14 mi)

Epicenter: 2.311°N 93.063°E

Coordinates: 2.311°N 93.063°E

Type: Undersea (strike-slip)

Countries or regions: India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand

Tsunami: No

Aftershocks: Yes

Casualties: Nil as of 14:07UTC 11th April

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