Indonesia hit by quake

A powerful earthquake has rocked Indonesia's Sumatra island and parts of the province of Aceh, causing widespread panic.

There are no roads on this island; it is very hard to get to the casualties

Local doctor

There are reports of casualties on the remote island of Simeulue, 400 kilometres (250 miles) north of Sumatra.

Simeulue hospital chief Dr Hanif told the Associated Press news agency that least 42 people had been injured, with 12 taken to hospital. Two were in a critical condition, he said.

"We fear that there are dozens more with even worse injuries," he added.

"There are no roads on this island. It is very hard to get to the casualties."

'Ring of Fire'

The US Geological Survey said the tremor measured 7.5 on the Richter scale - a magnitude capable of great destructive force.

The tremor, which was centred offshore, damaged buildings and caused people to panic and run out into the streets of Sumatra and parts of Aceh.

Seismologists in Singapore are warning that there is a high risk of tsunami - powerful waves caused by seismic activity - in western Sumatra.

Indonesia, the world's largest archipelago nation, is prone to seismic upheaval because of its location on the so-called Pacific "Ring of Fire".