Strong quake hits off coast of Indonesia's South Sumatra

JAKARTA (AFP): A 6.0-magnitude earthquake hit off the coast of Indonesia late Tuesday (Aug 23), according to the US Geological Survey, sending people fleeing their homes but with no casualties or damage immediately reported.

The shallow quake occurred in the waters off the southwestern coast of Sumatra island, at around 9:30pm (1430 GMT) -- nearest to Bengkulu, South Sumatra and Lampung provinces.