Total solar eclipse sweeps over Indonesia

In Singapore, the partial solar eclipse was visible minutes after the sunrise on Wednesday.

People's reaction to the total solar eclipse that swept over Indonesia on Wednesday morning ranged from wild cheer to chants of prayer.

As many as 40 million people could witness the rare solar event, which was visible across 12 provinces encompassing three times zones.

I'm so happy that I can see this rare phenomenon in my life," said a person who witnessed the eclipse, the Jakarta Post reported.

While the eclipse was total in a large swathe of Indonesia, including Sumatra, Kalimantan and Sulawesi, its intensity was in varying degrees in other places in Southeast Asia.

A total eclipse was safe to be viewed with naked eyes, whereas a partial eclipse needed screening filters.

The total eclipse was also be visible in parts of Australia, south-east Asia and Hawaii. Astronomers had earlier said the entire eclipse would last about three hours.

In Singapore, the partial solar eclipse was visible minutes after the sunrise on Wednesday.

As much as 90 percent of the sun was obscured by the moon for more than an hour in the morning over the city state. The partial eclipse started in Singapore at 7.20am and lasted up to 8.23am.

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