An 8.7 magnitude earthquake struck right off the waters of Indonesia on April 11, 2012. The large quake could be felt in Singapore, Thailand and India, striking fear in thousands of people. A tsunami watch was put in effect for the entire Indian Ocean following the earthquake, with warning sirens sending residents to high grounds.
Indonesia President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono stated on national television that So far, there is no tsunami threat.
Fear of a tsunami striking is due to the 2004 earthquake that hit Indonesia. The 9.1 magnitude quake in December 2004 is one of the 10 strongest earthquakes recorded since 1990, reported CNBC. Striking off the coast of Aceh providence in Indonesia, the earthquake triggered a tsunami that took the lives of over 226,000 people in 13 countries, including India and Thailand.
Take a look at photos of the devastation that the 2004 earthquake and tsunami caused to the Aceh province in Indonesia.
An Acehnese woman and her granddaughter walk through ruins of houses in the village of Lamteumen in the tsunami-hit city of Banda Aceh on January 25, 2005. It has been almost a month since countries around the Indian Ocean were hit by the December 26, 2004 tsunami triggered by an earthquake off Indonesia, killing more than 234,000 people.ReutersAcehnese ride motorcycles past corpses in the village of Lampaseh Kota in the tsunami-hit city of Banda Aceh on January 25, 2005. It has been almost a month since countries around the Indian Ocean were hit by the December 26, 2004 tsunami triggered by an earthquake off Indonesia, killing more than 234,000 people. ReutersThe bodies of Acehnese victims of the tsunami that hit on Sunday lie in a mass grave in the Lambaro district in the Indonesian city of Aceh Besar December 28, 2004. Dead bodies littered the streets of Indonesia's Aceh province on Tuesday as fears rose that more than 25,000 people may have been killed in the country by Sunday's earthquake and tidal wave.ReutersResidents of Banda Aceh, which was hit by a huge tsunami wave following Sunday's massive earthquake, walk over debris. Residents of Banda Aceh, which was hit by a huge tsunami wave following Sunday's massive earthquake, walk over debris December 30, 2004. One of the most powerful earthquakes in history hit Asia over the weekend, unleashing a series of tidal waves which devastated coastal areas of Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia and tourist isles in Thailand, killing tens of thousands of people. ReutersA view of part of the city of Banda Aceh, Indonesia, which was hit by a huge tsunami wave following Sunday's massive earthquake. A view of part of the city of Banda Aceh, Indonesia, which was hit by a huge tsunami wave following Sunday's massive earthquake, December 30, 2004. One of the most powerful earthquakes in history hit Asia over the weekend, unleashing a series of tidal waves which devastated coastal areas of Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia and tourist isles in Thailand, killing tens of thousands of people.Reuters
