Travellers heading to holiday destinations across the Far East and Polynesia are being warned to take caution after an earthquake rocked Indonesia less than 24 hours after a powerful tsunami hit Samoa.
The Foreign Office (FCO) issued an alert advising against all but essential travel to Samoa and American Samoa after yesterday's tsunami which, triggered by an earthquake of between 8.0 and 8.3 on the Richter scale, killed up to a hundred people and caused extensive damage in the tiny archipelago.
Buildings are reduced to rubble on American Samoa after tsunami waves swept ashore yesterday.
The advice preceded another big earthquake which measured 7.6 on the Richter scale and struck North West of Padang in Sumatra, Indonesia late this morning (GMT). Shaking could be felt in high buildings in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, several hundred miles away and in neighbouring Singapore and Malaysia.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre has subsequently issued a regional tsunami watch for India, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia.
As yet, the FCO advice for travellers heading to Indonesia remains unchanged although general advice on earthquakes recommends visitors familiarise themselves with safety procedures in the event of another earthquake occurring, and take note of earthquake-related instructions e.g. in hotel rooms.
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