An earthquake of magnitude 6.8 on the Richter scale struck the Mentawai islands, off the west coast of Sumatra in Indonesia at 17:29 local time on 10 April. Mass panic ensued in Padang and Pekan Baru, provincial capitals on Sumatra, with many people fleeing their homes for higher ground. Local authorities alerted residents to evacuate but they have since returned as the threat of imminent disaster ceased.
