Monday, January 24 2005 14:32 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: A strong earthquake today (Jan 24, 2005) rocked Andaman and Nicobar Islands and parts of Chennai, where panic-struck residents were seen running out of their houses in some areas.

One of the strongest aftershocks since the December 26 earthquake that triggered killer Tsunami waves, the tremor measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale was recorded at 09:47 hrs (IST) off the west coast of Great Nicobar islands, the Met department said in New Delhi.

Residents in some areas, particularly in high-rise buildings, in parts of North Chennai came out after they felt the tremor.

Since December 26, over a hundred aftershocks have rocked Andaman and Nicobar Islands and surrounding regions, but only a few were of more than 6.0 in intensity. Chennai was rocked twice after the tragedy in December last year.