25 July 2012 Last updated at 00:47 ET

One dead as earthquake strikes off Indonesia

A powerful 6.4 magnitude earthquake has struck off the west coast of Sumatra in Indonesia, sending people fleeing from their homes.

One elderly man collapsed and died as he fled his home, officials said.

There have been no reports of other casualties or major damage and no tsunami occurred, said Indonesia's meteorological authority.

Indonesia's islands sit in an area that is regularly hit by earthquakes.

The quake struck at about 07:30 local time (00:30 GMT), around 34km (21.12 miles) north-west of Sinabang, on the island of Simeulue off Sumatra's west coast, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).

The elderly man, who died on the island, had a history of hypertension, officials said.