Strong tremors in Chennai

Strong tremors were felt in several places in Tamil Nadu Wednesday following the massive earthquake in Indonesia, with people coming out of their homes and some schools moving students into open grounds.

According to reports, tremors were felt in Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Nagapattinam and other areas. Coastal regions in the state have been put on high alert.

“I was lying on the floor reading a paper when I felt the shake. I immediately came out of the apartment and saw several others doing the same,” said W. Shobha, who lives in Chennai's Adyar area.

“We brought the children to the grounds once we felt the tremors,” a teacher at a leading school in South Chennai told IANS. The earthquake had its epicentre off the west coast of northern Sumatra and occurred at 2.08 p.m., the IMD said. It led to a tsunami warning in 28 countries, including India, and brought back memories of the 2004 tsunami that saw more than 7,000 people being killed in Tamil Nadu's coastal areas.