Indonesia earthquake: Many dead and dozens of buildings collapse

Sumatra : An undersea earthquake off Indonesia’s Aceh province has killed at least 24 people, with dozens feared trapped in rubble, authorities said.

The 6.4 magnitude quake struck near the town of Sigli on Sumatra island where dozens of buildings have collapsed.

Indonesia’s meteorological agency said there was no risk of a tsunami.

In 2004, Aceh was devastated by a tsunami caused by a massive undersea earthquake that killed 120,000 people in the province.

The US Geological Survey said the earthquake struck just offshore at 05:03 local time (22:03 GMT Tuesday) at a depth of 17.2km (11 miles).

Said Mulyadi, deputy district chief of Pidie Jaya, the region hit hardest by the quake, confirmed the death toll to BBC Indonesian, but said it could rise.