Large quake triggers tsunami alert

cctv.com 07-25-2005 09:36

A strong earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale, has hit India's southern Nicobar Islands. The quake triggered panic on the islands and a tsunami warning in Thailand. But there have been no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

Sunday's earthquake was felt and triggered alarm in several parts of the area that was struck last December by the Indian Ocean tsunami. That disaster killed nearly 179 thousand people in 11 countries and left over 49-thousand missing.

Thailand invoked a tsunami warning system late Sunday after a powerful earthquake struck in the nearby Nicobar Islands, but ended the alert after it became clear there was no risk of destructive waves hitting the coast. The government announced that people could return home.

The National Disaster Warning Center formally lifted the tsunami warning about 90 minutes after it had been issued in national television broadcasts.

It was the first big test for the center since it was created after the tsunami last year.

According to New Delhi's Meteorology Department, the epicenter of the quake was near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands that lie between India and Thailand.

The quake also jolted southern India's Tamil Nadu state, where the December 26th tsunami killed more than 8,000 people.

Editor:Wang Ping  Source:CCTV.com