A red alert has been sounded along coastal Tamil Nadu and people are being advised to move to safer areas in the wake of a massive earthquake that was recorded off the coast of Indonesian island of Sumatra.

The administration has asked people to stay at least 500 metres away from seashores, official sources said.

These are only precautionary measures, as, so far, no report of any tsunami hitting the coastal areas has been reported, they added.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa was in touch with the Union home ministry for updates on any possible tsunami.

State Relief Commissioner R Santhanam told reporters in Chennai that people all along the coastal areas have been asked to move to safer places and will be evacuated.

Fire service sources told PTI that announcements were being made all along the coastal areas asking people to move to safer places.

Police were not allowing people near the Marina beach in Chennai.