A second major earthquake has hit Indonesia's Sumatra island as officials say the overall death toll could number in the "thousands".

The 6.9 magnitude struck at 8.52am local time (1.52pm NZT) Thursday on Sumatra island, about 280km from the epicentre of a more powerful quake on Wednesday (local time), The United States Geological Survey said.

Rustam Pakaya, the head of the Indonesian health ministry's disaster centre, made the death toll forecast to Reuters at Jakarta's Halim airport.

Rescue efforts are under way around the area worst hit by Wednesday's quake, the regional capital of Padang on West Sumatra. At least 200 people died there and thousands are said to be trapped under collapsed buildings throughout the province.

Originally posted by dallas18
it is amazing this recent activity. i am concerned about the thousands of volcanos around this region, also interesting that jupiter is behind the moon at this time and it will also be again on the 26th Oct (i read this on another thread) (very significant date this one). maybe krakatoa will wake

The magnitude-6.3 Yogyakarta quake in central Java in May 2006 killed more than 5,000 people, triggered fears of an eruption of a nearby volcano and caused significant damage to a 9th century Prambanan temple.

Originally posted by gandhi
Horrible. Wierd though, last week i kept thinking of large earthquakes, and this week we get hit. Now this week im thinking of snow. I hope next week snows.