A strong earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale occurred in West Sumatra tonight but there is no threat of tsunami to Malaysia so far, according to the Malaysian Meteorological Department.

The department in a statement here tonight, said the earthquake with its epicentre at about 649km south-west of Siberut, Indonesia, 1,163km south-west of Port Dickson, Negri Sembilan, took place at 8.49pm.

Following the incident, tremors were felt in some parts of Selangor and Johor, the department said.

It is now monitoring developments in the aftermath of the earthquake and will update on the situation from time to time, the statement added.

As a precautionary measure, residents in Perlis, Kedah and Penang coastal areas are advised to stay away from the beaches from 12.45am.

M'sian students safe

All Malaysian students in Padang, West Sumatra, are reported to be safe after the authorities withdrew a tsunami warning issued after a strong earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale struck tonight.

The Malaysian consul-general in Medan, Amizal Fadzli Rajali, when contacted, said all 70 Malaysian medical students at Universitas Andalas, Padang, were allowed to return to their homes after they had gathered and waited to be evacuated.

"The students are undergoing clinical training at a hospital in Padang and have been advised to return home but to remain alert," he told Bernama .

The consulate was monitoring the situation and would contact them from time to time with the latest information, he said, adding that calm prevailed.

He said Malaysian students in Medan and Aceh were not affected by the earthquake as those areas did not experience any tremors.

Meanwhile, thousands of panic-stricken people in the coastal areas of Padang, West Sumatra, are still reluctant to return home despite the authorities having withdrawn the tsunami warning.

According to live television news reports, the people were fearful of aftershocks.

Police were reported to have made a public announcement that the situation was safe and the tsunami warning had been withdrawn.

A villager was quoted as saying the people refused to return as they feared for their safety.

He said residents were moving to Padang city after hearing sirens and learning of a tsunami warning.

- Bernama