REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MEDAN -- Inhabitants of South Tapanuli District rushed out of their homes in panic, as an earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale jolted the district in North Sumatra Province on Friday at 8:25 a.m. local time.

The tremor lasted for around 20 seconds, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), noted in a statement.

The quake's epicentre was located at 1.37 degrees northern latitude and 99.19 degrees eastern longitude, nine kilometers (km) southwest of Padang Sidempuan City, South Tapanuli District, and at a depth of 10 km, Syahnan, head of the data and information unit of the Medan meteorological, climatology, and geophysics office, stated here, Friday.

Also read: 5.5-magnitude quake hits North Sumatra

The tremor, which was also felt by the residents of Padang Lawas District, did not have the potential to trigger a tsunami.

Reports of damages or casualties are not immediately available.

"The command post of BNPB continues to monitor the impacts of the quake," Nugroho remarked.

Mount Lubuk Raya, located in West Angkola, South Tapanuli District, emitted smoke following the earthquake.

Indonesia is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, as the country is located in the Ring of Fire, a zone comprising a string of volcanoes and seismically active sites.

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