As many as 2,000 people have died in Indonesia after a massive earthquake hit the region Monday. The quake occurred near the epicenter of December’s earthquake that triggered the devastating tsunami that killed 280,000 people across 11 countries. Monday’s earthquake registered at a magnitude of 8.7. The epicenter was near the Indonesian island of Sumatra. “The hard hit population of Western Sumatra have again been struck by very large earthquake. This is not an after shock, it is one of those earthquakes you call a great earthquake because it is between 8 and 9 on the richter scale,” said Jan Egeland, the Emergency Relief Coordinator for the United Nations. “It has created a lot of panic in Sumatra, all over the island, it was easy to feel how big it was. We do not have reports of any tsunami yet anywhere and also only limited reports of damage.” Officials believe the worst hit area was the Indonesian island of Nias where hundreds of buildings have been destroyed. While no tsunami resulted from the earthquake a series of warnings were issued for the Indian Ocean region. The U.S.-run Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii warned that all coastal areas within 600 miles of the epicenter be evacuated without delay. The warnings were withdrawn after no giant waves appeared. In Aceh, tens of thousands of people abandoned their tents and temporary homes in fear. The area was devastated by the December 26th tsunami. As many as 100 aftershocks have shook the region since December but Monday’s earthquake was by far the strongest.