30 September 2009 Sumatra Earthquakes

The 30 September 2009 Sumatra earthquakes occurred just off the southern coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. The major shock hit at 17:16:10 local time (just 45 kilometer north-west of Padang and is said to have directly effected 3.3 million people on the island of Sumatra) on September 30, 2009 (10:16:10 UTC (Coordinated Universal Time)) and had a moment magnitude of 7.6. The epicenter was 45 kilometres (28 mi) west-northwest of Padang, Sumatra, and 220 kilometres (140 mi) southwest of Pekanbaru, Sumatra.

Death-toll estimates extend beyond 1300, with thousands more trapped in collapsed buildings and under landslides. Government reports confirmed 807 dead, 891 severely injured and 1,365 slightly injured in West Sumatra province. The most deaths occurred in the areas of Padang Pariaman (359), Padang (312), Agam (80) and Pariaman (37). In addition, around 135,000 houses are severely damaged, 63,000 houses are moderately damaged and 67,000 houses are slightly damaged.

Officials speaking by phone said thousands of peole are trapped under rubble and many are injured. The death toll is expected to be in the hundreds with some 2 dozen deaths reported in the first 4 hours after the Padang quake hit. TV footage on Indonesian outlets Metro TV showed devastation after the Padang earthquake with piles of rubble and smashed houses seen in breaking news TV broadcasts across the country.

The 7.6 magnitude quake was felt around the Asian region, office workers staying back late on Wednesday evening were sent running into the streets as buildings swayed in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Many others in apartments and hotels reported feeling the powerful shock. Mobile phones were not working and electricity was out across the city of Padang, reports said.

For years scientist have been worried a large quake could hit the city and cause serious flooding to the population of 900,000 and millions more up and down the Sumatra coast line.

The USGS said the Padang quake hit at 0.789°S, 99.961°E and 80 kilometers under the sea floor in the Indian Ocean.Authorities feared a tsunami may have been generated after the early evening quake but have since called off a tsunami watch for Padang and other parts of the Indian Ocean.