Earthquake has people worried on anniversary of big tsunami

Argentina Star Saturday 26th December, 2009

On the fifth anniversary of the tsunami that killed almost 250,000 people, a strong earthquake has rocked Indonesia.

As people were solemnly remembering the disaster throughout the staunchly Islamic nation, the quake hit off the Indonesian island of Maluku, where there were no immediate reports of casualties.

Although the quake was of magnitude 6.7 and occurred below the sea at a depth of 67 kilometres, there was no subsequent report of a tsunami.

It is believed the quake happened far enough under the sea, about 152 kilometres north-west of Tual, Maluku province, that its tsunami effect was insignificant.

The 2004 tsunami was triggered by a 9.3-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Sumatra, and seismologists have agreed there will probably be another similar event in the quake-prone region.

Five years after the disaster, there have been many reconstruction projects finished, with the help of billions of dollars of international aid.

Seven billion dollars has been spent on rebuilding, including 140,000 new homes, 1,759 school buildings, 363 bridges and 13 airports.