The quake struck at a depth of 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) around 44 kilometres southwest of Mukomuko in Bengkulu province at 9:45 am (0245 GMT).

"The undersea quake was felt in Bengkulu, but it did not have the potential to create damage," national quake centre official Ridwan said.

Indonesia sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", where the meeting of continental plates causes high seismic activity, and Sumatra is particularly prone to earthquakes.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2011