NZ is not at risk of a tsunami after earthquake

A woman hugging a girl uses a mobile phone shortly after they ran out from a building when a strong earthquake hit in Aceh. Photo / AP

New Zealand is not at risk of a tsunami after a powerful earthquake off Indonesia this evening.

The earthquake off the west coast of northern Sumatra, which struck at 8.38pm, was provisionally measured as 8.7-magnitude and 33km deep.

The quake was reportedly felt as far away as Thailand and India and was picked up by seismographs in New Zealand.

The United States Geological Service said the quake was in a similar location and of a slightly lower magnitude to the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami that killed around 230,000 people.

The Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management said it had assessed the information with the help of scientific advisers and based on the current information, the initial assessment was that the earthquake did not pose a tsunami threat to New Zealand.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii said a tsunami watch was in effect for Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Australia, Myanmar, Thailand, the Maldives and other Indian Ocean islands, Malaysia, Pakistan, Somalia, Oman, Iran, Bangladesh, Kenya, South Africa and Singapore.

Residents across Sumatra fled their homes in panic, local media reported.

Residents in Banda Aceh reported the ground shaking violently."

People are in a panic, and there are traffic jams everywhere in Banda Aceh," local Metro TV reported.

Said, an official at Indonesia's Meteorology and Geophysics Agency who goes by only one name, said a tsunami warning was issued for cities all along the coast of Sumatra island.

There was chaos in the streets, with shaking continuing for nearly four minutes.

"I was in the shower on the fifth floor of my hotel," Timbang Pangaribuan told El Shinta radio from the city of Medan. "We all ran out. ... We're all standing outside now."

He said one guest was injured when he jumped from the window of his room.