Moderate earthquake hits off Indian coast

A moderate earthquake struck off India's Andaman islands on Saturday, but no casualties or damage were immediately reported, the India Meteorological Department said. The temblor, measuring 5.9 in magnitude, hit the southern Andaman islands at 0121 hours local time, said an official at the meteorological department. There were no immediate reports of any damage, said the official, who didn't want to be named because he is not authorized to speak to media. No other details were available. The remote islands off the east coast of India were among the many areas devastated by the Dec. 26, 2004, Indian Ocean tsunami, which was triggered by a 9.1 magnitude earthquake near Indonesia.