Silver Spring, Maryland--An assessment team from the Adventist Development and Relief Agency is on the ground in Indonesia and evaluating survivors' needs after a magnitude 8.4 earthquake struck off the coast of southwestern Sumatra, near the city of Bengkulu, at 6:10 p.m. local time Wednesday evening.

Wednesday's massive temblor prompted a tsunami alert that sent coastal residents scrambling for higher ground. The quake was followed Thursday by several strong earthquakes off western Sumatra, registering between magnitude 6.2 and 7.8 and resulting in tsunami warnings that were later cancelled. The tremors were felt as far away as Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia.

Initial reports indicate the earthquakes have toppled hundreds of buildings in the cities of Bengkulu and Padang, killed at least 12 people, and left dozens more injured throughout the earthquake-affected regions.

ADRA will continue to assess the situation and meet the changing needs of survivors in the aftermath of the earthquakes.

Updates will be released as response efforts expand in the coming days and weeks.

To donate to ADRA's earthquake response efforts in Indonesia, please contact ADRA at 1.800.424.ADRA (2372) or donate online to ADRA's Emergency Response.

ADRA is present in 125 countries, providing community development and emergency management without regard to political or religious association, age, gender, or ethnicity.

Additional information about ADRA can be found at www.adra.org.

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Media Contact:

Kara Watkins
ADRA International
12501 Old Columbia Pike
Silver Spring, MD 20904
Phone: 301.680.6357
E-mail: Media.Inquiries@adra.org