A powerful earthquake of 6.6 magnitude struck off the Indonesian island of Sumatra on Thursday, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said.

The Indonesian Tsunami Early Warning System said there was no potential for a tsunami.

Why It Matters

Indonesia sits atop the Pacific Ring of Fire, a tectonic zone marked by frequent and sometimes devastating earthquakes and volcanic activity. The country is highly vulnerable due to its position at the convergence of several major tectonic plates, including the Indo-Australian, Pacific, and Eurasian plates.

What To Know

Thursday's earthquake struck at a depth of 16 miles, 28 miles northwest of the town of Sinabang, which is on the small island of Simeulue, off Sumatra’s west coast, the USGS said. It was followed by a magnitude 4.8 aftershock just to

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