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Aceh earthquake: children among dead and dozens more trapped on Sumatra Aceh earthquake: children among dead and dozens more trapped on Sumatra Aceh earthquake: 54 dead and dozens feared trapped in Indonesia
(35 minutes later)
At least 54 people died and dozens were feared trapped in rubble after a strong earthquake struck off Aceh province on Indonesia’s Sumatra island on Wednesday. At least 54 people died and dozens were feared trapped in collapsed buildings after a powerful earthquake struck off Indonesia’s Sumatra island at dawn on Wednesday.
Pidie Jaya district chief Aiyub Abbas confirmed the rising death toll and said hundreds of people in the district have been injured and dozens of buildings collapsed. Search and rescue teams in Aceh province, an area previously devastated by a massive quake and tsunami on Dec. 26, 2004, used tractors to shift the rubble in attempts to reach people buried in their houses.
Rescue operations were under way to find those believed trapped beneath the rubble, with heavy machinery being used to shift the debris but Abbas said there was an urgent need for excavation equipment and emergency supplies.
The shallow 6.5-magnitude quake hit just north of the small town of Reuleuet, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). There was no tsunami alert.The shallow 6.5-magnitude quake hit just north of the small town of Reuleuet, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). There was no tsunami alert.
The quake struck at dawn as some in the predominantly Muslim region prepared for morning prayers, local officials said.
Major General Tatang Sulaiman said 52 people died in Pidie Jaya, the district closest to the epicentre of the undersea quake. Another two people died in neighbouring Bireuen district.Major General Tatang Sulaiman said 52 people died in Pidie Jaya, the district closest to the epicentre of the undersea quake. Another two people died in neighbouring Bireuen district.
Local authorities said there was an urgent need for excavation equipment and emergency supplies. And President Joko Widodo announced he had instructed his chief of staff to fly immediately to Aceh to monitor the situation.
The quake struck at 5 am local time (2200 GMT Tuesday) as the predominantly Muslim region prepared for morning prayers, local officials said.
Images on television and social media showed cracked roads, collapsed buildings and downed electricity poles. At least five aftershocks were felt in the hours after the initial quake.
“There isn’t enough medical staff around,” said the Red Crescent’s Muklis, who like many Indonesians uses one name, told TVOne.
The national disaster mitigation agency says 78 people have suffered serious injuries.The national disaster mitigation agency says 78 people have suffered serious injuries.
Said Mulyadi, deputy district chief of Pidie Jaya, said seven children were among the dead, with a local hospital overwhelmed by the number of people arriving with injuries.Said Mulyadi, deputy district chief of Pidie Jaya, said seven children were among the dead, with a local hospital overwhelmed by the number of people arriving with injuries.
“The hospital here couldn’t take the patients, so we sent some to the neighbouring district,” he said.“The hospital here couldn’t take the patients, so we sent some to the neighbouring district,” he said.
Mosques, homes and shops were flattened in the quake, with images from the worst-hit areas showing significant damage. Local resident Hasbi Jaya, 37, said his family was asleep when the shaking started.
Local resident Hasbi Jaya, 37, said his family was asleep when the powerful quake struck.
“We immediately ran outside the house but it crumbled. Everything from the roof to the floor collapsed, and was destroyed,” he said.“We immediately ran outside the house but it crumbled. Everything from the roof to the floor collapsed, and was destroyed,” he said.
We immediately ran outside the house but it crumbled. Everything from the roof to the floor collapsed.We immediately ran outside the house but it crumbled. Everything from the roof to the floor collapsed.
“I looked around and all my neighbours’ houses were also completely destroyed.”“I looked around and all my neighbours’ houses were also completely destroyed.”
The local disaster management agency said rescue efforts were under way to save those trapped beneath collapsed buildings. Seismologists said the earthquake was felt across much of Aceh province, which was devastated by the 2004 tsunami.
“Some people are still trapped inside shophouses and we are trying to evacuate them using heavy machines and by hand,” local agency head Puteh Manaf said. That quake and tsunami killed more than 170,000 people in Indonesia and tens of thousands more in other countries around the Indian Ocean. Aceh was the worst hit region with more than 120,000 people killed.
Seismologists said the earthquake was felt across much of Aceh province, which was devastated by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
At least five aftershocks followed the quake, said Eridawati, local head of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency.
The USGS upgraded the magnitude to 6.5 from an initial reading of 6.4 and issued a yellow alert for expected fatalities and damage.The USGS upgraded the magnitude to 6.5 from an initial reading of 6.4 and issued a yellow alert for expected fatalities and damage.
“Some casualties and damage are possible and the impact should be relatively localised,” it said.“Some casualties and damage are possible and the impact should be relatively localised,” it said.
In the coastal town of Sigli people panicked and fled their houses to seek shelter away from the sea. In the coastal town of Sigli people panicked and fled their houses to seek shelter away from the sea, despite no tsunami alert being issued.
“We are now evacuating to Tijue because we are afraid of a tsunami,” said Nilawati, one of those heading several kilometres inland. “We are now evacuating to Tijue because we are afraid of a tsunami,” said Nilawati, one of those heading inland.
Indonesia experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its position on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, where tectonic plates collide.Indonesia experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its position on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, where tectonic plates collide.
Aceh lies on the northern tip of Sumatra island, which is particularly prone to quakes. Aceh lies on the northern tip of Sumatra island, which is particularly prone to quakes. The last one struck in July.
In June a 6.5-magnitude quake struck off the west of Sumatra, damaging scores of buildings and injuring eight people. Selina Sumbung, chairperson of a local partner of Save the Children, said it was still too early to know exactly how severe the humanitarian impact will be. She said roads and ports had been damaged “which may result in further challenges in delivering aid.
A huge undersea earthquake in the Indian Ocean in 2004 triggered a tsunami that engulfed parts of Aceh. “We’re particularly concerned about the impact on children. Earthquakes can be extremely frightening, and children’s psychosocial wellbeing will be an important part of the recovery process,” Sumbung said.
The tsunami killed more than 170,000 people in Indonesia and tens of thousands more in other countries around the Indian Ocean.
Associated Press and Agence France-Presse contributed to this reportAssociated Press and Agence France-Presse contributed to this report