Sumatra quake: Malawakil arranging evacuation of 12 Malaysian students

SHAH ALAM - The Malaysian Representative Office in Medan (Malawakil) is arranging the evacuation of 12 Malaysian students in Padang to a safe area following a 7.0-magnitude earthquake that hit Southern Sumatra, earlier this morning.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said the evacuation was made based on the standard operating procedure (SOP).

"The Malawakil in Medan has identified 12 Malaysian students in Padang and they are arranging the evacuation (of the students) to a safe area based on the SOP," he told Sinar Daily.

He said tthe ministry was currently closely monitoring the situation, especially the aftershocks and that the Malaysian Consulate General in Medan was keeping track of the situation.

The initial tsunami warning has also been lifted by the Indonesian authorities, Zambry added.

"Let’s pray for the safety of our neighbours in the affected areas, especially in Sumatra, Indonesia and for Malaysians who are there.

"May they always be protected," he said when contacted.

Earlier this morning, a 7.1-magnitude earthquake rattled residents on islands west of Indonesia's Sumatra, forcing them to flee to higher ground before an hours-long tsunami warning was lifted. No casualties or severe damage were reported.

Meanwhile, according to the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia), tremors were felt in several states along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia following the major earthquake, which occurred at about 4am.

It said the epicentre of the 7.0-magnitude earthquake near Southern Sumatra was located at latitude 0.9 degrees south and longitude 98.3 degrees east with a depth of 49 kilometres (km), which is equivalent to 85 km northwest from Siberut, Indonesia.

The tremors may have been felt in Perak, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, and Johor, it said.

However, the department said there was no tsunami threat to Malaysia.