Aceh residents flee after tsunami warning
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A massive 8.6 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia's Sumatra island on Wednesday, triggering an Indian Ocean-wide tsunami alert and evacuation orders across Asia.
The quake was reported to have struck 431 kilometres off the Indonesian city of Banda Aceh, where panicked residents grabbed their families and fled for higher ground. The initial quake was followed by a major 8.2 magnitude aftershock.
Tremors were felt as far afield as Thailand, where skyscrapers in the capital Bangkok swayed. In Singapore, residents in several parts of the island state also expereinced tremors, while India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar all issued alerts or evacuation orders.
Click through the gallery to see the scenes that unfolded in theIndonesian city of Banda Aceh, the city closest to the epicentre of theearthquake.
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