A year later, tsunami warning system tested

Indonesia tested a tsunami warning system sounding alarms at Padang town in western Sumatra that sent residents running through the streets.

Indonesia tested a tsunami warning system on Monday, sounding alarms in a town that sent many residents running through the streets according to an organised evacuation plan.

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The event in Padang town in western Sumatra was held one year to the day after a massive tsunami struck the island's eastern coast, causing massive damage and killing at least 131,000 people in Aceh province.

Town residents were encouraged to take part in the exercise, and were warned ahead of time that it was a drill.

When the sirens sounded, thousands of people exited their houses and workplaces and ran up specially built paths to higher ground.

One year ago on Monday, a magnitude 9 earthquake -- the most powerful in 40 years -- ruptured the sea floor off Sumatra island, displacing billions on tons of water and sending waves 10 metres high radiating across the Indian Ocean at jetliner speeds.

The waves struck a dozen countries, leaving at least 2,16,000 people dead or missing.