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Tsunami Hits Indonesia, Sweeping Buildings Away and Killing Dozens Tsunami and Earthquake in Indonesia Kill Dozens, With Toll Likely to Rise
(about 1 hour later)
BANGKOK — A tsunami smashed into Sulawesi island in Indonesia on Friday, destroying buildings in the city of Palu shortly after the region was struck by a magnitude 7.5 earthquake. BANGKOK — A strong earthquake and a tsunami struck Sulawesi island in Indonesia on Friday, destroying thousands of buildings and leaving dozens of people dead, with many others missing.
No official casualty toll had been issued by early Saturday morning, but at least 30 deaths were reported at the city’s Undata Hospital alone, Dr. Komang Adi Sujendra, the director, said in a video message posted to Twitter. Hospitals reported at least 48 deaths in the city of Palu alone, most of them from the quake, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman for the Indonesian disaster agency, said Saturday. He said the toll from the tsunami was unknown, but that preparations for a festival had been underway in Palu when the wave came and many people were unaccounted for.
In a separate video, Dr. Komang said that the area had no electricity, that phone and internet service had been disrupted and that road access was limited. He sought help from the public, saying that “we hope to build a field hospital immediately.” Mr. Sutopo said officials had been unable to make contact with Donggala, a fishing community near Palu that was also reported to have been hit by the tsunami. Aid workers feared the death toll could rise substantially as communications were restored and information came in from Donggala and other places.
Authorities estimated the tsunami’s waves to be about 10 feet high, but a cellphone video reported to be taken in Palu showed a wave that seemed even higher crashing over the roofs of one-story buildings. The buildings then disappear beneath the water. Dr. Komang Adi Sujendra, the director of Undata Hospital in Palu, said in a video message posted online that the area had no electricity, that phone and internet service had been disrupted and that road access was limited. He sought help from the public, saying that “we hope to build a field hospital immediately.”
It is unclear whether everyone in the area evacuated in time. Authorities estimated the tsunami’s waves to be about 10 feet high, but a cellphone video reported to have been taken in Palu showed a wave that seemed even higher crashing over the roofs of one-story buildings. The buildings then disappear beneath the water.
The spokesman for Indonesia’s disaster agency, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, said houses were swept away and families were reported missing. It was difficult to immediately assess the extent of the casualties or the damage that was done because communications were disrupted. Mr. Sutopo said houses were swept away and families were reported missing.
“We have found corpses from the earthquake as well as bodies swept up by the tsunami,” Mr. Sutopo said in a television interview. “Injured people are being treated. We don’t have the exact number yet because we are still checking.” “We have found corpses from the earthquake as well as bodies swept up by the tsunami,” Mr. Sutopo said in a television interview.
The quake, which also caused damage, struck 48 miles north of Palu, according to the United States Geological Survey. The tsunami was reported to have hit at least one other community, Donggala. The quake, which had a magnitude of 7.5, struck 48 miles north of Palu, according to the United States Geological Survey.
Yenni Suryani, the Indonesia country manager for Catholic Relief Services, said Saturday that it could take hours for rescuers to reach Donggala and other communities that might have been affected. Communications were down near the quake’s epicenter, and damage to a runway at the Palu airport meant flights were being limited to government and military helicopters, she said.Yenni Suryani, the Indonesia country manager for Catholic Relief Services, said Saturday that it could take hours for rescuers to reach Donggala and other communities that might have been affected. Communications were down near the quake’s epicenter, and damage to a runway at the Palu airport meant flights were being limited to government and military helicopters, she said.
Ms. Suryani feared that the toll could rise substantially, noting that initial casualty figures from hospitals would not include people who could have been swept out to sea.Ms. Suryani feared that the toll could rise substantially, noting that initial casualty figures from hospitals would not include people who could have been swept out to sea.
“I’m worried about people who might have been washed away,” she said. “Several mosques, a shopping mall, and many houses have collapsed. The impact is significant, and as soon as our local partners can reach affected areas and establish communication, we’ll know more about the extent of the destruction and people’s most urgent needs.”“I’m worried about people who might have been washed away,” she said. “Several mosques, a shopping mall, and many houses have collapsed. The impact is significant, and as soon as our local partners can reach affected areas and establish communication, we’ll know more about the extent of the destruction and people’s most urgent needs.”
Earlier in the day, a quake measuring 6.1 had hit the island of Sulawesi, and authorities reported that several people had died and 10 were injured, according to the AP. Earlier in the day, a quake measuring 6.1 had hit Sulawesi, and authorities reported that several people had died and 10 were injured, according to The Associated Press.
After the larger quake hit the region, the authorities issued a tsunami warning. They said it was lifted after the tsunami reached land.After the larger quake hit the region, the authorities issued a tsunami warning. They said it was lifted after the tsunami reached land.
The brief video from Palu appears to have been taken from the top of a building across from the beach.The brief video from Palu appears to have been taken from the top of a building across from the beach.
The video starts by showing that coastal buildings and a major street below were already flooded, indicating that an initial wave had already hit the coast. Debris was floating in the water, but no people were visible. A large wave can be seen rolling toward the shore.The video starts by showing that coastal buildings and a major street below were already flooded, indicating that an initial wave had already hit the coast. Debris was floating in the water, but no people were visible. A large wave can be seen rolling toward the shore.
As the wave struck, people on top of the building shouted and scrambled to get away from the wall of water. The water surged around a mosque, whose large green dome had collapsed, probably from the quakes.As the wave struck, people on top of the building shouted and scrambled to get away from the wall of water. The water surged around a mosque, whose large green dome had collapsed, probably from the quakes.
The authorities said Palu’s airport would be closed until Saturday evening because of damage from the quakes.The authorities said Palu’s airport would be closed until Saturday evening because of damage from the quakes.
Indonesia, a vast archipelago with about 17,500 islands, is part of the Ring of Fire, an area susceptible to earthquakes and volcanic activity.Indonesia, a vast archipelago with about 17,500 islands, is part of the Ring of Fire, an area susceptible to earthquakes and volcanic activity.
Numerous earthquakes have struck the region in recent months. One of the biggest was a magnitude 6.9 earthquake that hit Lombok and the Gili islands southwest of Sulawesi on August 5, killing more than 460 people.Numerous earthquakes have struck the region in recent months. One of the biggest was a magnitude 6.9 earthquake that hit Lombok and the Gili islands southwest of Sulawesi on August 5, killing more than 460 people.
In 2004, a magnitude 9.1 earthquake struck off the coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra causing a massive tsunami in the Indian Ocean and killing about 230,000 people, most of them in Indonesia.In 2004, a magnitude 9.1 earthquake struck off the coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra causing a massive tsunami in the Indian Ocean and killing about 230,000 people, most of them in Indonesia.