Another massive earthquake with a 8.7 magnitude was recorded off the Sumatra coast in Indonesia at 10.09 p.m. Sri Lankan time, (16.09 G.M.T.). The earthquake had not resulted in any tsunami as at midnight last night. When contacted, IGP Chandra Fernando said that the Police had taken measures to evacuvate all residents on the coastal belt from midnight last night.
The Government also advised the people to seek shelter in safer areas and areas with a higher elevation. President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga last night over the electronic media requested people living on the coastal belt to move two kilometres inland and get to safer places.
An Army spokesman said last night that if Sri Lanka were to be affected by any tsunami, it would have occurred within three hours of the earthquake.
A Meteorological Department spokesman said that this 8.7 magnitude earthquake was powerful enough to cause a tsunami.
Khalid
