An earthquake of magnitude 6.5 hit just off Indonesia's Sumatra coast today (Saturday) -- the third strongest of nearly 100 notable aftershocks since last Sunday's devastating quake and tsunami. There are no immediate reports of damage or tsunamis from the latest seismic activity.
The New Year's Day aftershock came as aid workers rushed to prevent the spread of disease among those who survived the disaster from the 9.0 magnitude quake. There are fears that illnesses such as cholera and typhoid could double the overall death toll, which United Nations officials say is approaching 150,000.
Large quantities of relief supplies are arriving in southern Asian countries hardest hit by last Sunday's tsunami, but officials are encountering problems distributing much of the aid.
Helicopters from Singapore and the U.S. aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln task force, along with C-130 cargo planes from Australia and Indonesia have been landing at Banda Aceh, the capital of Indonesia's Aceh province. But food, water and critical medical supplies are stacking up because of difficulty reaching the hardest hit areas.