An earthquake measuring 7.3 in magnitude hit off the west coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra, but there were no reports of casualties or damage and tsunami warning was lifted

An earthquake measuring 7.3 in magnitude hit off the west coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra, but there were no reports of casualties or damage and tsunami warning was lifted.

The US Geological Survey said that the tremor hit at 2:37 a.m. local time on Wednesday (1837 GMT Tuesday) at a depth of 95 kilometers.

Indonesia's meteorological and geophysics agency lifted a tsunami warning calming local residents who had earlier fled their houses to higher ground. It said the quake had been felt in northern and western Sumatra.

Local people in Banda Aceh ran in panic from buildings after news of the tsunami warning and the quake, though were returning to their homes after the warning was lifted.

Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where the meeting of continental plates causes high seismic activity, such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.