A group of students, including Malaysians, ran helter-skelter when a series of tremors triggered by an earthquake in Meulaboh, Aceh hit Ujong Batee Beach, Banda Aceh where they were attending a family day.

Four Malaysian students were among some 160 students of the Ar Raniri State Islamic Institute taking part in the event when the incident occurred.

Malaysian Students Association secretary-general Abdullah Hakimi Zainal Abidin, 21, said he and three other Malaysian students were about to go to the mosque for a prayer after having their lunch when they felt dizzy as the earth vibrated violently.

"The second tremor sent those who were bathing in the sea packing. Shortly after a tsunami warning siren was sounded. My friends and I reached for our motorcycles and left the beach.

"We were more panicky than Acehnese students as they had experienced tsunami before," he said when contacted.

Abdullah Hakimi, who is majoring in faith and philosophy, was at the Banda Aceh Airport to receive Higher Education Ministry sports director Shaharuddin Ismail.

A strong earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale struck off the Indonesian Aceh province on the northern end of Sumatra at 12.59pm. A tsunami warning was issued but was later lifted after no major waves materialised.

Three other Malaysian students are Muhammad Muslim Amran, 20, Abdul Halim, 27, and Syed Muzaffar, 24.

Abdullah Hakimi said soon after he was contacted by Malaysian Students Department (MSD) director Junaidy Abu Bakar, who told him to remind Malaysian students to obey the tsunami warning.

He said the roads were congested with vehicles as the people fled their homes but normalcy returned to Banda Aceh at about 3pm when the tsunami warning was lifted.

Meanwhile, Junaidy said all 165 Malaysian students at the Ar Raniri State Islamic Institute were temporarily sheltered at the Malaysian Students Association's house until further notice.

He said other than the four Malaysian students, who were at the beach during the tremors, other students were reported to be at another location, about 10km from the beach.

"All Malaysian students are safe. They were told to observe the emergency SOP (standard operating procedure) in the event of another earthquake and tsunami.

"The MSD and the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta are monitoring the situation," he said, adding that parents could call +6281 80 88 11111 (Junaidy Abu Bakar) or email jun@ukm.my for enquiries.

- Bernama