DEVELOPING NEWS: A massive earthquake has hit Indonesia. The magnitude is said to be 8.9 on Richter scale, tsunami warning has been issued to 28 countries.
In India, tremors were felt in eastern parts, including Chennai and Kolkata. Updates regarding the earthquake are as follow:
Update at 2:25 pm PKT
Indians from twitter report that tremors were also felt in Mumbai. As of now it is not known whether a tsunami has been generated or not.
Update at 2:30 pm PKT
Tremors also felt in Malaysia, Maldives, Srilanka and Singapore.
Update at 2:39 pm PKT
Unconfirmed reports of tsunami warning being issued for Pakistan.
Update at 2:43 pm PKT
The power has gone out in Banda Aceh in Indonesia and residents are moving to higher ground in the country.
Update at 2:57 pm PKT
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii has issued tsunami warning for Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Australia, Myanmar, Thailand, the Maldives, Malaysia, Pakistan, Somalia, Oman, Iran, Bangladesh, Kenya, South Africa and Singapore.
Update at 3:33 pm PKT
Fresh Tremors of 6.5 strikes Indonesia, a tsunami of 6 metres could hit Indonesia.
Update at 3:35 pm PKT
The seaport of Indian city of Chennai has been closed as waves of tsunami could reach later in the day.
Update at 4:55 pm PKT – BREAKING NEWS
A second earthquake of magnitude 8.2 strikes Indonesia, off Sumatra coast.
Update at 5:16 pm PKT
Waves reported at 1-meter in Indonesia. However not much deadly waves of tsunami expected in India and other adjoining countries.
Update at 5:27 pm PKT
There is no threat of tsunami in Pakistan as the country is very far away and due to its inner location. The Earthquake of of this type generally does not generate a deadly tsunami.
Update at 6:55 pm PKT – NEW
According to the British geological survey, this was a different type of earthquake that is a strike-slip quake that causes horizontal movement of the surfaces. This type of earthquake creates small waves while the thrust quake is the most dangerous as it causes the surface to move vertical causing large waves to move rapidly forward.
After some 5 hours of the earthquake, no major tsunami waves has been detected. Few above-normal waves were observed at the coast of Thailand and Indonesia though were not threatening. Tsunami warning has been lifted now!
Pakistan Weather Portal (PWP) 