Tsunami Alert!

"Please be advised to stay away from the beach for states of Perlis, Kedah, Perak and Penang," the Malaysian Meteorological Services Department said in a statement.

A powerful quake measuring 7.9 has struck near Indonesia's Sumatra island, triggering tsunami warnings in Indonesia, Malaysia, north-west Australia, India and Sri Lanka, officials said.

Indonesia's Global TV reported that several buildings in Padang, the capital of West Sumatra had collapsed, while Metro TV reported that some buildings had caught fire.

The US Geological Survey said the underwater quake hit at about 6.10 pm (2110 AEST) and was centred 105 kilometres south-west of Bengkulu on Sumatra island at a depth of 15.6 kilometres.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre issued a tsunami warning for wide areas of the region.

"Earthquakes of this size have the potential to generate a widespread destructive tsunami that can affect coastlines across the entire Indian Ocean Basin," it said, warning that waves could hit Indonesia and Australia within an hour.

Source : The Age