The Centre early on Tuesday withdrew the tsunami warning it issued in the wake of a massive earthquake, measuring 8.2 on the Richter scale, off the Indonesian coast.

It said it was safe for coastal residents to return home.

Four hours have passed since the earthquake, which the US Geological Survey said measured 8.7, and no unusual sea conditions have been reported from Port Blair or Chennai, S K Swami, Director, Disaster Management, said in a message issued at 0230 hours.

The Centre, however, asked authorities in the coastal states and Andaman and Nicobar islands to continue to keep a watch as a precautionary measure.

"The earthquake does not appear to have generated tsunamis over the Indian region and in view of this the advise issued earlier by Indian Meteorological Department regarding possibility of a tsunami stands cancelled," the message issued to the chief secretaries of Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu, Kerala [Images], Karnataka, Andaman and Nicobar islands and Lakshadweep, said.