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| Deadly earthquake hits Indonesia | Deadly earthquake hits Indonesia |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A powerful earthquake has struck the Indonesian island of Sumatra, killing at least 70 people and flattening hundreds of buildings. | A powerful earthquake has struck the Indonesian island of Sumatra, killing at least 70 people and flattening hundreds of buildings. |
| The US Geological Survey said the quake had a magnitude of 6.3, and was centred near the town of Padang. | The US Geological Survey said the quake had a magnitude of 6.3, and was centred near the town of Padang. |
| There are fears the death toll may be higher as many people are believed to have been trapped beneath rubble. | There are fears the death toll may be higher as many people are believed to have been trapped beneath rubble. |
| The quake struck at 1049 local time (0349 GMT), causing panic among residents in western Sumatra. | The quake struck at 1049 local time (0349 GMT), causing panic among residents in western Sumatra. |
| It was like the being in a ship where you were swayed around when there were big waves Solok resident class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6422945.stm">Eyewitness accounts A strong aftershock - magnitude 6.0 according to the US Geological Survey - struck two hours later causing further damage and panic. | |
| Rescue workers confirmed that hundreds of buildings had collapsed although the BBC's Lucy Williamson in Jakarta says many of these are likely to be small, wooden houses. | Rescue workers confirmed that hundreds of buildings had collapsed although the BBC's Lucy Williamson in Jakarta says many of these are likely to be small, wooden houses. |
| Communications cut | |
| Indonesian television pictures showed concrete buildings that had partially collapsed or had large cracks running through them. | Indonesian television pictures showed concrete buildings that had partially collapsed or had large cracks running through them. |
| The epicentre of the quake was about 50km (30 miles) north-east of Padang. | |
| Emergency officials are scrambling to co-ordinate rescue efforts, but communications to some of the affected areas have been cut. | Emergency officials are scrambling to co-ordinate rescue efforts, but communications to some of the affected areas have been cut. |
| Padang, the capital of West Sumatra, has lost its electricity supply and telephone lines are down. | |
| The lack of power has the led the army to evacuate residents from the town of Batusangkar near the epicentre. | |
| RECENT INDONESIAN QUAKES 6 March 2007: Magnitude 6.3 quake hits Sumatra, at least 70 dead18 December 2006: Mag 5.7 quake hits Sumatra, seven dead17 July 2006: Tsunami from Mag 7.7 quake off Java kills 50027 May 2006: Mag 6.2 quake near Yogyakarta kills 5,00026 December 2004: Tsunami from Mag 9.1 quake kills 130,000 in Sumatra | RECENT INDONESIAN QUAKES 6 March 2007: Magnitude 6.3 quake hits Sumatra, at least 70 dead18 December 2006: Mag 5.7 quake hits Sumatra, seven dead17 July 2006: Tsunami from Mag 7.7 quake off Java kills 50027 May 2006: Mag 6.2 quake near Yogyakarta kills 5,00026 December 2004: Tsunami from Mag 9.1 quake kills 130,000 in Sumatra |
| Emergency teams are searching at least three towns that are known to have been hit, assessing the damage and trying to count the number of people killed. | Emergency teams are searching at least three towns that are known to have been hit, assessing the damage and trying to count the number of people killed. |
| Officials said 18 people had been killed in the town of Solok while 16 were killed in Tanah Datar. | Officials said 18 people had been killed in the town of Solok while 16 were killed in Tanah Datar. |
| The mayor of Solok, Samsurahim, said the casualty figure may rise higher still. | The mayor of Solok, Samsurahim, said the casualty figure may rise higher still. |
| "I cannot predict how many people are still trapped because the process is still on," he said. | "I cannot predict how many people are still trapped because the process is still on," he said. |
| "However, there are many houses collapsed, and I believe that the inhabitants are in them." | "However, there are many houses collapsed, and I believe that the inhabitants are in them." |
| Hospitals have been overwhelmed with wounded and officials have appealed for medicine and communications equipment. | Hospitals have been overwhelmed with wounded and officials have appealed for medicine and communications equipment. |
| Tents have been set up on playing fields in Solok and Padang to help treat the hundreds of wounded. | Tents have been set up on playing fields in Solok and Padang to help treat the hundreds of wounded. |
| Collapse fears | Collapse fears |
| Christelle Chapoy, from the aid charity Oxfam's earthquake response team, told the BBC her organisation was ready to assist. | Christelle Chapoy, from the aid charity Oxfam's earthquake response team, told the BBC her organisation was ready to assist. |
| "We have a standby emergency response team based in Yogyakarta [on Java], and they're collecting information from our local partners at this stage," she said from Banda Aceh in northern Sumatra. | "We have a standby emergency response team based in Yogyakarta [on Java], and they're collecting information from our local partners at this stage," she said from Banda Aceh in northern Sumatra. |
| Officials fear people are buried beneath rubbleThe first tremors brought people rushing out of their homes. | Officials fear people are buried beneath rubbleThe first tremors brought people rushing out of their homes. |
| "The houses were all swaying away so were the things inside and lots of the houses collapsed," a man in Padang told the BBC. | "The houses were all swaying away so were the things inside and lots of the houses collapsed," a man in Padang told the BBC. |
| Indonesian television showed pictures of panic and confusion at one hospital as patients and staff rushed outside, fearing the building would collapse. | Indonesian television showed pictures of panic and confusion at one hospital as patients and staff rushed outside, fearing the building would collapse. |
| Residents of some coastal areas fled to higher ground, but local officials said there was no risk of a tsunami as the earthquake happened under land rather than under the sea. | Residents of some coastal areas fled to higher ground, but local officials said there was no risk of a tsunami as the earthquake happened under land rather than under the sea. |
| The quake was also felt in western coastal areas of Malaysia, and several tall buildings in Singapore's business district swayed slightly due to the tremor. | The quake was also felt in western coastal areas of Malaysia, and several tall buildings in Singapore's business district swayed slightly due to the tremor. |
| Traders said there was no impact on financial trading. | Traders said there was no impact on financial trading. |
| Indonesia sits on the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, and experiences frequent earthquakes - as well as tsunamis triggered by underwater earthquakes. | Indonesia sits on the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, and experiences frequent earthquakes - as well as tsunamis triggered by underwater earthquakes. |
| Last year, more than 500 people died when a tsunami hit an area of the Java coast after an undersea earthquake. | Last year, more than 500 people died when a tsunami hit an area of the Java coast after an undersea earthquake. |
| And in the Asian tsunami of December 2004, over 130,000 people died in Sumatra when waves destroyed swathes of the province of Aceh. | And in the Asian tsunami of December 2004, over 130,000 people died in Sumatra when waves destroyed swathes of the province of Aceh. |
Are you in the area or do you know anyone affected by the quake? Send us your comments using the form: | Are you in the area or do you know anyone affected by the quake? Send us your comments using the form: |
| Name | Name |