Frightened Indonesians suffer new quakes

By Ahmad Pathoni

BENGKULU, Indonesia (Reuters) - Frightened residents on Indonesia's Sumatra island huddled in tents outside their damaged homes on Friday, traumatised by the latest of more than 40 aftershocks since a huge earthquake struck two days ago.

Indonesia's meteorology agency issued on Friday the latest in a series of tsunami warnings after another strong quake in Sumatra, although it was lifted about an hour later.

Officials said food and other aid had reached some of the areas hit by the quake, but added many more tents were needed as people were still sleeping in the open, either because their houses had been destroyed or because they were too scared to return home in case of further quakes.

"We have received aid from neighbouring provinces, government agencies, and international organisations, and we are delivering it to those in need," said Muhammad Syamlan, vice governor of Bengkulu province, which was close to the quake's epicentre.

"What people need most are tents because they are staying in the open."

There have been a series of tremors ranging in intensity from 4.9 to 7.8 since Wednesday's 8.4 quake, repeatedly setting off tsunami warnings in Indian Ocean countries.

There have, however, been no reports of the sort of massive and widespread tsunami whose huge waves caused death and devastation throughout the region in 2004, following a quake of over 9 magnitude.

Seismologist Mike Turnbull of Australia's Central Queensland University warned against complacency over the frequent tsunami warnings.