Magnitude 6.6 earthquake hits western Indonesia amid massive floods, landslides

An earthquake of magnitude 6.6 hit Indonesia's Sumatra island near Aceh province on Thursday, even as the island grapples natural disasters, including a tropical cyclone.

According to the United States Geological Survey, the quake struck Simeulue Island at a depth of 25 kilometres, and there were no immediate reports of damage and tsunami warning.

The Indian Ocean tsunami warning centre also said that “there is no threat” of a potential tsunami in the wake of the earthquake, AFP reported.

Meanwhile, a rare tropical cyclone ‘Senyar’ blew across the Sumatra island on Wednesday, inundating the Malacca Strait and worsening the situation, the country's meteorological agency said.

Rescue efforts also took a hit due to a “total cut-off” of roads and communications, an official told sources. Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for the country's disaster mitigation agency, said another ten people were missing amid the floods.

Around 8,000 people were evacuated across North Sumatra, and aid and logistics are being arranged via helicopter as roads remain blocked due to landslide debris, Muhari said.