Aceh quake: Your experiences

A tsunami watch declared after two major earthquakes off the coast of Indonesia's Aceh province has now been cancelled, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PWTC) says.

Two hours after the quakes - one with a magnitude of 8.6, the other measuring 8.3 - the centre says "the threat has diminished or is over for most areas".

Despite the strength of the earthquake, BBC News website readers in the region have been giving their accounts of their measured reactions:

John Andri, North Sumatra, Indonesia

When the earthquake happened, I was near Lake Toba.

It was only one earthquake but it felt like many.

The bigger earthquakes are very scary, with everything crumbling around you.

Aftershocks were still happening hours later.

It is now very cold and raining hard.

We have been told to avoid Lake Toba because the water has exceeded its limit.

Liz Roskell, Khao Lak, Thailand

My husband and I had just arrived at our hotel in Khao Lak when the earthquake struck.

It felt weak so at first we thought nothing of it. We had just gone for a swim when we were suddenly told to evacuate the pool.

We were told a tsunami was going to hit and then the sirens went off - first in Thai, then in English, then German. I didn't hear any more because at that stage we were just running to get to higher ground.

As we we running towards the hills, people were driving past and picking up pedestrians. We were picked up by one of these vehicles. I kept on looking behind me, expecting to see water rising. I was just hoping we would be able to get high enough.

People moved to higher ground in Phuket (pictured) and other areas of Thailand

Khao Lak was badly affected by the 2004 tsunami and many people we were with were crying. They had lost loved ones in the last tsunami and they were panicking. It was chaotic.

After a while, we decided to go back down to the hotel to pick up some essential supplies, but not long after that the all-clear sounded. The hotel has been brilliant and provided free food and drink.

They were very well-organised, with warning all down the coast. They evidently have prepared well for another tsunami.

We're just relieved it's all over.

Paul Houston, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Crowds gather outside a shopping mall in Penang, Malaysia.

We could feel the office shaking for at least five minutes here in Kuala Lumpur.

In previous earthquakes my first reaction has been to stand in a doorway or head for the emergency exit.

This time, most residents in my block of flats remained in doors. There was no sign of panicking. People here are accustomed to the odd tremor.

Friends in Penang and Singapore also commented on social networks that the effects were similar if not worse than the quake in 2004.

An hour after the quake hit there was no sign of aftershocks.

Richy Panicker, Bangalore, India

We felt the earthquake just as we'd returned from lunch. My colleagues and I had gone back to our desks and were chatting when the tremors could clearly be felt.

Suddenly a group of security guards came running in to the building and we were told to leave.

Richy Panicker and his colleagues were told to evacuate the building

I have experienced earthquakes before in Delhi so this was not a new experience for me.

It was certainly strong enough to make an impression where we were.

We were able to get out of the building in about 15 minutes and we remained outside for about an hour.

I spoke to some of my friends in different places in Bangalore and they also felt the tremor.

Even my family in Kerala experienced this too.