Earthquake Shakes Mentawai Islands
Monday, 03 March, 2008 | 16:45 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Padang: An earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale shook the coast of West Sumatra and the Mentawai Islands on Monday (3/3) at around 9.30.

The Meteorology and Geophysics of Padang Panjang recorded that the earthquake occurred in the Mentawai Strait, 157 kilometers Southwest of Painan.

The location was exactly in front of Pagai Island in the Mentawai Islands Regency.

Due to the earthquake, hundreds of students in Pagai went home early.
A Sikakap resident, Supri Lindra, said via telephone that hundreds of students from elementary school to high school were still crowding the streets.

“At the time of the earthquake, I was near to the Vincentius SD (Elementary School),” said Supri.

Now the town of Sikakap is deserted as residents prefer staying in evacuation tents in the hills.

“Every night we still sleep in the tents because of the fear of an earthquake,” said Supri.

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