By ANTHONY DEUTSCH
The Associated Press

PADANG, Indonesia - The second powerful earthquake in as many days shook western Indonesia Thursday, collapsing buildings in a coastal city and triggering tsunami alerts around the region.

At least nine people were killed and 49 injured in the twin tremors, which caused tall buildings to sway in at least three countries.

On Wednesday, an 8.4-magnitude earthquake shook Southeast Asia. That tremor triggered a small non-destructive tsunami off the coastal city of Padang on Sumatra, the Indonesian island ravaged by the 2004 tsunami disaster. A tsunami warning was issued for wide areas of the region and nations as far away as Africa.

Thursday’s magnitude-7.8 quake rattled the same area of Sumatra and caused extensive damage in Padang.

“Many buildings collapsed after this morning’s quake,” Fauzi Bahar, the mayor, told El Shinta radio. “We’re still trying to find out about victims.”

Thousands of frightened people piled in trucks or sought shelter on high ground.

Rafael Abreu, a geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey in Colorado, said Thursday’s quake did not appear to be an aftershock to the temblor the day before. But the centers of both were close together.

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