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Quake survivors afraid to return Quake survivors afraid to return
(about 6 hours later)
Thousands of Indonesians have spent the night in the open after a powerful earthquake which destroyed many homes and left at least 70 people dead. Thousands of Indonesians have spent the night in the open after a powerful earthquake which destroyed many homes and left at least 52 people dead.
Many are afraid to return to their homes, while others have no home left.Many are afraid to return to their homes, while others have no home left.
The authorities fear the death toll may rise as search teams sift through the rubble, but hope some of those missing may be pulled out alive. A spokesman for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono revised the death toll down from 70, as search teams continued to sift through the rubble.
The 6.3 magnitude quake struck close to the city of Padang in the west of Sumatra island on Tuesday morning.The 6.3 magnitude quake struck close to the city of Padang in the west of Sumatra island on Tuesday morning.
The quake and a powerful aftershock had caused panic among residents, bringing many rushing out of their homes and offices.The quake and a powerful aftershock had caused panic among residents, bringing many rushing out of their homes and offices.
"I ran out of the house, but I was hit by a collapsing building," said Misbadi, 50, who broke his arm and was one of thousands of people who headed to hospitals in Padang."I ran out of the house, but I was hit by a collapsing building," said Misbadi, 50, who broke his arm and was one of thousands of people who headed to hospitals in Padang.
Treatment areas were set up outside amid fears of aftershocks.Treatment areas were set up outside amid fears of aftershocks.
It was like the being in a ship where you were swayed around when there were big waves Solok resident Eyewitness accountsIt was like the being in a ship where you were swayed around when there were big waves Solok resident Eyewitness accounts
"Women were crying out in terror. We all just fled as quickly as we could," said Alpion, who ran with many others to higher ground, fearing a tsunami."Women were crying out in terror. We all just fled as quickly as we could," said Alpion, who ran with many others to higher ground, fearing a tsunami.
None came, as the quake struck land rather than under water.None came, as the quake struck land rather than under water.
Many said they were too frightened to return to their homes.Many said they were too frightened to return to their homes.
In remoter parts, efforts to provide assistance were complicated by electricity cuts and damage to transport links.In remoter parts, efforts to provide assistance were complicated by electricity cuts and damage to transport links.
Rescue workers said hundreds of buildings had been brought down, although the BBC's Lucy Williamson in Jakarta says many of these are likely to be small, wooden houses.Rescue workers said hundreds of buildings had been brought down, although the BBC's Lucy Williamson in Jakarta says many of these are likely to be small, wooden houses.
Communications cutCommunications cut
The epicentre of the quake was about 50km (30 miles) north-east of Padang, the capital of West Sumatra.The epicentre of the quake was about 50km (30 miles) north-east of Padang, the capital of West 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 Officials said 18 people had been killed in the town of Solok, while 16 were killed in Tanah Datar.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 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 he could not say how many people were still trapped in the rubble.The mayor of Solok, Samsurahim, said he could not say how many people were still trapped in the rubble.
It may be some time before the final number of dead and injured and the full extent of the damage are known.It may be some time before the final number of dead and injured and the full extent of the damage are known.
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.
The Dutch government was one of the first to pledge help, earmarking 1.5m euros (£1m), while a "saddened" UN chief Ban Ki-moon said his organisation was ready to step in with assistance.The Dutch government was one of the first to pledge help, earmarking 1.5m euros (£1m), while a "saddened" UN chief Ban Ki-moon said his organisation was ready to step in with assistance.
Ring of fireRing of fire
The quake was also felt hundreds of kilometres away in parts of Malaysia, and several tall buildings in Singapore's business district swayed slightly.The quake was also felt hundreds of kilometres away in parts of Malaysia, and several tall buildings in Singapore's business district swayed slightly.
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, more than 130,000 people died in Sumatra when waves destroyed swathes of the province of Aceh.And in the Asian tsunami of December 2004, more than 130,000 people died in Sumatra when waves destroyed swathes of the province of Aceh.