India Lifts Tsunami Warning; Indonesian President Declared No Threat

Following a massive earthquake of 8.7 magnitude hit the Aceh Province of Indonesia on Wednesday, India issued tsunami alert to the coastal areas. However, India has lifted tsunami  warning it issued after the first quake.

The earthquake triggered a likelihood of a widespread tsunami in the countires around Indian Ocean.

Speaking to media after two hours of the Indonesian earthquake, the Vice-President of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Sasidhra Reddy said that waves were not seen in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Tremors were felt in Indian cities like Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Patna, Vizag, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Cuttack, Bhubaneshwar and several other places in coastal areas following the massive earthquake in Indonesia.

The US Geological Survey said that the quake struck 308 miles (500 km) southwest of the city of Banda Aceh, on the northern tip of Indonesia's Sumatra Island, at a depth of 20.5 miles (33 km).

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii had earlier issued a tsunami alert to 28 countries including Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Australia, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Pakistan, Somalia, Oman, Iran, Bangladesh, Kenya, South Africa, Singapore, the Maldives and other Indian Ocean islands.

Meanwhile, the President of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono declared that there were no reports of casualties or damage and no threat tsunami.

"There is no tsunami threat although we are on alert," Reuters quoted the President as saying at a joint news conference with visiting British Prime Minister David Cameron, who said Britain was standing ready to help if needed.

"The situation in Aceh is under control, there's a little bit of panic but people can go to higher ground," Yudhoyono added.

(With Inputs from Reuters)