Quake sends Indonesians fleeing from Aceh
parliament
Published on Apr 17, 2012

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia (AFP) - A moderate earthquake struck off Indonesia's Sumatra island on
Tuesday, United States (US) seismologists said, sending people running in fear from Aceh province's
parliament.
The 5.1-quake hit at 10.24am (11.24am Singapore time) at a depth of around 42km, 80km south-west of
the provincial capital Banda Aceh, the US Geological Survey said.
'The epicentre was located in the sea and was felt by people in Banda Aceh,' said Mr Arif Achir of
Indonesia's meteorology and geophysics agency, adding there was no tsunami threat or immediate reports
of damage.
An AFP correspondent said the quake lasted around 45 seconds, sending people running from parliament
and children from classrooms.
Tokyo Sky Tree safe from quakes: Operator
Published on Apr 17, 2012
A photographer lies on the ground to take picures from the foot of the Tokyo Sky Tree, the world's tallest TV tower and
second-highest building, in Tokyo on April 17, 2012. The 634m new landmark in the Japanese capital was opened to the
press before the grand opening on May 22. -- PHOTO: AFP
TOKYO (AFP) - The operator of Tokyo Sky Tree on Tuesday explained how the world's second-highest
building will survive the strong earthquakes that regularly shake Japan when it opens to the public next
month.
'The Tokyo Sky Tree was constructed with state-of-the-art Japanese technology. It will not fall,' said Mr
Yoshihito Imamura, deputy manager of Tokyo Sky Tree Town.
On Tuesday, the 634m tower, topped by a communications mast, was opened for the first time to media,
attracting around 1,000 domestic and foreign journalists.
When the tower opens to the general public on May 22, the main attraction will be the two observation
decks at 350m and 450m above ground.
Strong 6.5 earthquake rumbles off Chile
coast
Published on Apr 17, 2012

SANTIAGO (AFP) - A strong 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of central Chile late on
Monday but does not appear to have generated a major tsunami, according to United States (US) monitors.
The quake sent tremors through the Chilean capital Santiago, sparking concern and causing power outages,
but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage, according to witnesses and local authorities.
The National Emergency Office (Onemi) ordered the precautionary evacuation of coastal areas from the
northern town of Coquimbo to the southern region of Maule, but the navy said the earthquake was unlikely
to cause a tsunami.
The US Geological Survey said the earthquake struck at 11.50pm (10.50am Singapore time) some 48km
from Valparaiso, Chile at a depth of 25.9km.
7.0-magnitude quake hits off Papua New
Guinea: USGS
Published on Apr 17, 2012
SYDNEY (AFP) - A 7.0-magnitude quake struck off the north-east of Papua New Guinea on Tuesday, the
US Geological Survey (USGS) said, but there was no tsunami warning issued.
The quake hit at 5.13 pm local time (3.15pm Singapore time) 141km north of the country's second largest
city of Lae and 443km from the capital Port Moresby at a depth of 201km, it said.
'A destructive tsunami was not generated based on earthquake and historical tsunami data,' the Pacific
Tsunami Warning Centre said in a statement.
Quakes of such magnitude are common in impoverished Papua New Guinea, which sits on the so-called
'Pacific Ring of Fire', a hotspot for seismic activity due to friction between tectonic plates.