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Indonesia tsunami: dozens killed in Sulawesi after powerful earthquake Indonesia tsunami: dozens killed in Sulawesi after powerful earthquake
(35 minutes later)
At least 48 people have been killed and more than 350 injured on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi after a powerful earthquake triggered a tsunami that damaged thousands of homes, buildings and bridges on Friday evening. A powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake and tsunami has killed at least 48 people, injured more than 356 others, and destroyed thousands of homes on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.
Authorities are yet to reach the areas worst hit by the tsunami, such as Donggala, where it is believed scores were killed in the strong wave. With communications and electricity down, the death toll is expected to rise as the extent of the damage becomes clearer. Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesperson for Indonesia’s disaster agency, said the toll related only to the city of Palu, as authorities worked to reach areas worst hit by the tsunami.
Rescuers are scrambling to reach hard-hit areas after a 1.5-metre (5ft) wave thundered over the coastline, crashing into Palu, the capital of central Sulawesi province, a smaller city in Donggala and several other coastal settlements, said Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman for Indonesia’s disaster agency. . Emergency response teams are yet to reach the coastal city of Donggala, worst hit by Friday evening’s tsunami, which was recorded at a height of 1.5 metres (5ft).
Amateur footage shot by residents and widely shared on social media show a powerful wave smashing into the city, entirely engulfing nearby houses. The disaster agency has confirmed the veracity of the footage.
Detik-detik saat tsunami menerjang Pantai Palu pada 28/9/2018 sore pascagempa 7,7 SR mengguncang Donggala. Tinggi tsunami sekitar 3 meter. Permukiman di sekitar pantai hancur disapu tsunami. pic.twitter.com/GnxecozDKkDetik-detik saat tsunami menerjang Pantai Palu pada 28/9/2018 sore pascagempa 7,7 SR mengguncang Donggala. Tinggi tsunami sekitar 3 meter. Permukiman di sekitar pantai hancur disapu tsunami. pic.twitter.com/GnxecozDKk
TV images showed dozens of injured people being treated in makeshift medical tents set up outdoors in public places. Communications and electricity are still down, and the full extent of the damage remains unclear. The death toll is widely expected to rise.
Early witness reports said the tsunami had claimed lives on Talise beach in Palu, a city that is home to about 350,000 people. “Many corpses are scattered on the beach and floating on the surface of the sea,” Nining, a resident, told Kompas.com Nining said she had identified victims amongst the debris of the coastal area, which has reportedly sustained severe damage. Images emerged on Saturday morning showing that some areas have been almost entirely flattened, with roads split and buildings collapsed, including hospitals and a shopping mall. A large bridge in Donggala was totally destroyed by the wave, while the airport in Palu sustained damage to the runaway and a terminal tower.
Unconfirmed photos show dozens of corpses lined up and covered in cloth by the shoreline covered by debris. TV images showed dozens of injured people being treated in makeshift medical tents set up outdoors in public places.
Early witness reports said the tsunami had claimed lives on Talise beach in Palu, a city that is home to about 350,000 people. “Many corpses are scattered on the beach and floating on the surface of the sea,” Nining, a resident, told Kompas.com. Nining said she had identified victims amongst the debris of the coastal area, which has reportedly sustained severe damage.
Search and rescue teams have been sent to hard-hit areas, Nugroho said on Saturday. On Friday he said military transport planes and helicopters would be deployed on Saturday, along with “all national potential”.Search and rescue teams have been sent to hard-hit areas, Nugroho said on Saturday. On Friday he said military transport planes and helicopters would be deployed on Saturday, along with “all national potential”.
“There are reports that many buildings collapsed in the earthquake,” he said. “Residents panicked and scattered out of their homes.”“There are reports that many buildings collapsed in the earthquake,” he said. “Residents panicked and scattered out of their homes.”
The shallow 7.5 magnitude tremor was more powerful than a series of quakes that killed hundreds on the Indonesian island of Lombok in July and August.The shallow 7.5 magnitude tremor was more powerful than a series of quakes that killed hundreds on the Indonesian island of Lombok in July and August.
People living hundreds of kilometres from the epicentre reported feeling the massive shake, hours after a smaller jolt killed at least one person in the same part of the south-east Asian archipelago.People living hundreds of kilometres from the epicentre reported feeling the massive shake, hours after a smaller jolt killed at least one person in the same part of the south-east Asian archipelago.
Dramatic video footage filmed from the top floor of a parking ramp in Palu, nearly 80km (50 miles) from the quake’s epicentre, showed waves of water bring down several buildings and inundate a large mosque.
Pictures supplied by the agency showed a badly damaged shopping mall in Palu where at least one floor had collapsed onto the storey below, while other photographs showed major damage to buildings and large cracks across pavements.
The magnitude 7.5 earthquake on Friday was followed by numerous strong aftershocks, including one of magnitude 6.7. An earlier magnitude 6.1 quake in central Sulawesi killed several people, injured 10 and damaged dozens of houses.The magnitude 7.5 earthquake on Friday was followed by numerous strong aftershocks, including one of magnitude 6.7. An earlier magnitude 6.1 quake in central Sulawesi killed several people, injured 10 and damaged dozens of houses.
Nugroho said the military would deploy troops to Palu and Donggala and the national police would mobilise officers to help with the emergency response.
Palu’s airport halted operations owing to earthquake damage, according to AirNav, which oversees airline traffic in Indonesia.
Indonesia is prone to earthquakes because of its location on the so-called Ring of Fire, an arc of volcanoes and faultlines in the Pacific Basin.Indonesia is prone to earthquakes because of its location on the so-called Ring of Fire, an arc of volcanoes and faultlines in the Pacific Basin.
Earlier this year, a series of powerful quakes hit Lombok, killing more than 550 people on the holiday island and neighbouring Sumbawa. Some 1,500 people were injured and about 400,000 residents were displaced after their homes were destroyed.Earlier this year, a series of powerful quakes hit Lombok, killing more than 550 people on the holiday island and neighbouring Sumbawa. Some 1,500 people were injured and about 400,000 residents were displaced after their homes were destroyed.
In December 2004 a magnitude 9.1 quake off Sumatra in western Indonesia triggered a tsunami that killed 230,000 people in a dozen countries.In December 2004 a magnitude 9.1 quake off Sumatra in western Indonesia triggered a tsunami that killed 230,000 people in a dozen countries.
Allahu Akbar.Detik2 terjadinya Tsunami yang direkam warga diatasi jembatan 4 atau jembatan kuning di daerah Talise, Kota Palu. Jembatan ini juga roboh akibat gempa 7,7 SR.#Gempa #PrayForDonggala #prayforpalu #PrayforSulteng #earthquake #tsunamiPalu #TSUNAMI #tsunamidonggala pic.twitter.com/ub6MhYtbGqAllahu Akbar.Detik2 terjadinya Tsunami yang direkam warga diatasi jembatan 4 atau jembatan kuning di daerah Talise, Kota Palu. Jembatan ini juga roboh akibat gempa 7,7 SR.#Gempa #PrayForDonggala #prayforpalu #PrayforSulteng #earthquake #tsunamiPalu #TSUNAMI #tsunamidonggala pic.twitter.com/ub6MhYtbGq
IndonesiaIndonesia
EarthquakesEarthquakes
TsunamisTsunamis
Natural disasters and extreme weatherNatural disasters and extreme weather
Asia PacificAsia Pacific
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