Nine Reportedly Killed in Indonesian Quake

[HeeBGBz]

Nine Reportedly Killed in Indonesian Quake

snip

"JAKARTA, Indonesia - A powerful earthquake rocked Indonesia's northernmost province of Aceh Sunday and radio reports said several small buildings had collapsed and large waves had slammed the area's north coast. Witnesses told Jakarta's el-Shinta radio station that nine people were killed in the quake, but there was no immediate way to confirm the casualty and damage reports.

There were conflicting reports on the size of the temblor, which struck about 8 a.m. and was centered about 100 miles off the west coast of Sumatra. The U.S. Geological Survey (news - web sites)'s Web site recorded a magnitude of 8.1, capable of massive damage. But Indonesian seismologists said the quake had a magnitude of 6.4. There was no way to immediately clarify the discrepancy."

Why the discrepancy?

snip

"The quake was felt as far away as the Thai capital, Bangkok, and came just three days after an 8.1 quake struck the ocean floor between Australia and Antarctica, causing buildings to shake hundreds of miles away but no serious damage or injury"

I hadn't heard about this other 8 pointer.