Terrified shoppers run for safety as earthquake sparks tsunami warning in Indonesia


Terrified shoppers run for safety after a 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia this evening.

Tremors were felt in the capital Jakarta causing buildings to briefly shake.

Shoppers at the Grand Jakarta mall were filmed fleeing in panic after the quake off the island of Sumatra and Java just after 8 pm local time.

Indonesia's disaster agency warned that the earthquake could trigger a tsunami with waves as this as three metres.

Spokesman Rahmat Triyono said: "There are some areas at risk of a serious threat of a tsunami that could be as high as three metres.

"We're still waiting for reports about damage.''

The agency urged residents on the Banten coast to "immediately evacuate to higher ground".

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake hit at a depth 52.8 kilometres, some 150 kilometres from Labuan, southwest of the capital Jakarta.

A tsunami warning has been issued in the southern parts of Pandeglang and Panaitan island in Banten province, and Lampung in Sumatra after a 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck offshore in Labuan, just southwest of capital city Jakarta.