A massive 8.2 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Sumatra March 28, 2005 close to where a quake triggered a tsunami that left nearly 300,000 people dead or missing across Asia, residents and officials said. The latest quake had the potential to cause a 'widely destructive tsunami' and authorities should take 'immediate action,' including evacuating coastlines within 600 miles of the epicenter, the Pacific tsunami warning center said. (Map: China Daily/Reuters)

Tremors were felt in many parts of Peninsular Malaysia just after 0:00 a.m. Tuesday, eye-witnesses said.

Many people living in tall buildings rushed down from their dwellings, they said.

Those who ran down said they felt giddy after the tremors, reported to have lasted for more than 20 seconds.

Guests at Nikko Hotel here also rushed down from their hotel rooms.

Jagiee Kaur, a media consultant from Kuala Lumpur who was holidaying in Teluk Intan, said she and her family members ran out of her house when the tremors began.

She immediately contacted the police station and police officers on duty told her that they had been receiving a lot of calls following the tremors.

Police said they were putting their officers on the alert.

An eye-witness said some phone lines in Penang were disconnected.

"They can't call out," she said.

People living in coastal areas in Penang, Perak, Kedah, Perlis and Pulau Langkawi wre advised to evacuate to higher areas after an earthquake measuring 8.5 on the Richter scale occurred off the coast of Sumatra.

"This earthquake has the potential to generate a widely destructive tsunami in the ocean or seas near where the earthquake happened," the Malaysian Meteorological Service said in a statement.

Many people in Penang said the tremors were similar to the ones which were felt on Dec. 26 when the tsunami killer waves hit many parts of the state.

Reports reaching here said an earthquake with a magnitude of 8.2 on the Richter scale was reported off the coast of Sumatra.

The police said people were more prepared this time around after the devastating Dec. 26 tsunami killed tens of thousands of people.

The Pacific tsunami warning center had said that the latest earthquake could generate a "widely destructive tsunami."