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Location of the West Nias earthquake. ANTARA/HO-BMKG - 

An earthquake of 7.2 magnitude rocked West Nias District, North Sumatra Province, on Friday, with the tremor being felt in several regions, including Gunungsitoli, North Nias, South Nias and Nias districts.

The quake was epicentered at 0.10 degrees north latitude and 96.53 degrees eastern longitude, and at a depth of 19 meters below sea level, according to data of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).

"It shook quite strongly, and it was similar to a strong earthquake that devastated Nias Island 16 years ago," Kris, a resident of Gunungsitoli, remarked.

Kris recalled that when the earthquake hit, he was asleep on a chair, and suddenly it began shaking quite strongly and for a long time due to which he quickly got up and rushed out of the house while screaming "earthquake, earthquake ..."

Outside his house in Gunungsitoli, Kris recollected seeing his neighbors also flee their homes owing to the earthquake.

Yunus, another resident of Gunungsitoli, remarked that the powerful earthquake forced him to flee the home and look for his children playing outside

The earthquake did not trigger a subsequent tsunami.

Reports on damages in the form of casualties inflicted by the tremor were yet unavailable immediately//ANT