Homes collapse in Indonesian quake
Source: Agencies |
June 17, 2010, Thursday
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A SERIES of powerful earthquakes rattled Indonesia yesterday, killing at least three people, triggering landslides and demolishing dozens of homes. A tsunami warning sent panicked residents fleeing buildings to high ground.
The 7.0-magnitude quake was centered 29 kilometers beneath the ocean floor and 195 kilometers off the northern coast of Papua province, the United States Geological Survey said. It was accompanied by a series of strong aftershocks, the highest measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale.
More than 20 houses collapsed in Serui, a town in Yapen district, sparking fires in at least seven places, said police spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Wachjono. Two bodies were pulled from beneath the rubble.
"Police and rescuers are still searching for other victims in remote areas," he said.
Hundreds of people ran out of their homes, said Yan Pieter Yarangga, a resident from the town of Biak. Fearing a tsunami, people fled beaches and some raced for high ground. "I ran too, I was afraid there would be a second quake," he said.
The tsunami warning was later lifted by authorities.
When the electricity was cut, some women and children screamed in terror, said police sergeant Junaidi. "Many were crying, they were so afraid."
Earlier in the day, a 5.3-magnitude quake on Sulawesi island, nearly 2,000 kilometers to the west, triggered landslides that damaged at least 50 homes, killing one person.
The 7.0-magnitude quake was centered 29 kilometers beneath the ocean floor and 195 kilometers off the northern coast of Papua province, the United States Geological Survey said. It was accompanied by a series of strong aftershocks, the highest measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale.
More than 20 houses collapsed in Serui, a town in Yapen district, sparking fires in at least seven places, said police spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Wachjono. Two bodies were pulled from beneath the rubble.
"Police and rescuers are still searching for other victims in remote areas," he said.
Hundreds of people ran out of their homes, said Yan Pieter Yarangga, a resident from the town of Biak. Fearing a tsunami, people fled beaches and some raced for high ground. "I ran too, I was afraid there would be a second quake," he said.
The tsunami warning was later lifted by authorities.
When the electricity was cut, some women and children screamed in terror, said police sergeant Junaidi. "Many were crying, they were so afraid."
Earlier in the day, a 5.3-magnitude quake on Sulawesi island, nearly 2,000 kilometers to the west, triggered landslides that damaged at least 50 homes, killing one person.
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