A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off the Indonesian island of Sumatra on Tuesday, according to the US Geological Survey, rattling residents but causing no serious damage.

The quake originated offshore from Sumatra’s northeastern tip, authorities said, prompting people to flee outdoors in a region that frequently experiences devastating tremors. “I was at home when it happened... the shaking was really strong,” 50-year-old Ahmadi, who, like many Indonesians, uses only one name, told AFP by telephone from the small coastal town of Sinabang in the northernmost Aceh province. “I panicked. We fled the house, but because the jolt was pretty short, things went back to normal,” he added, adding he could see “families running around here on the street”.

— AFP