7.5 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Indonesia

A strong earthquake hit off the coast of Indonesia’s Sumatra Island Monday at 9:42 p.m. local time. The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake had a preliminary magnitude of 7.5.

The epicenter was located 149 miles south from Padang. At least five towns in Bengkulu and West Sumatra provinces reported feeling the earthquake. There are no reports of damages or casualties.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a local tsunami watch, but the center said “a destructive widespread tsunami threat does not exist based on historical earthquake and tsunami data.”

Indonesia is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire where about 90 percent of the world’s earthquakes occur. The Ring of Fire is also home to 452 volcanoes.

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