Banda Aceh- Conditions in Banda Aceh city have returned to normal on Sunday evening after an earthquake measuring 7.2 on Richter scale rocked Aceh province at about 1 pm on the same day.

Thousands of people who rushed out or left their homes during the earthquake have returned to their houses.

Trade activities such as those at Peuayong traditional market, Pasar Aceh and Kampung Baru, have returned to normal even since 2.30 pm local time.

Residents who live in coastal areas such as Kelurahan Lampulo, Kampung Mulia, Kramat, Kuta Alam and Ulee Lhue, Meuaxa, have also returned to their homes.

Thousands of residents fled their homes with their family members and sought higher places in Lambaro and Lampeunurut areas, Aceh Besar district. Meteorology officials said the quake had the potential to trigger a tsunami.

There was no immediate report of casualties or material damage. But many roads in the provincial capital were congested following the quake.

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) said in an official website the epicenter of the quake which struck at 12.59 western Indonesian time was in the sea 66 km southwest of Meulaboh in West Aceh district at a depth of 30 km.

Several residents monitored the sea water level following the magnitude 7.2 quake from Krueng Cut bridge located about 2 km from the coast.

An earthquake of 8.9 on Richter scale which triggered a towering tsunami devastated Banda Aceh on December 26, 2004 killing about 240 thousand people.