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| Indonesia quake deaths pass 450 | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| At least 464 people are now known to have been killed by a powerful quake that struck the Indonesian island of Sumatra on Wednesday, officials say. | |
| Rescuers struggled in heavy rain on Thursday to find survivors in the rubble of collapsed buildings. The death toll is expected to rise. | |
| The 7.6 magnitude quake struck close to Padang, the capital of West Sumatra province. | |
| The earthquake brought down hundreds of buildings, including hospitals. | |
| It cut power lines and triggered landslides. | |
| "Our prediction is that thousands have died," said Rustam Pakaya, head of the health ministry's disaster centre in Jakarta. | "Our prediction is that thousands have died," said Rustam Pakaya, head of the health ministry's disaster centre in Jakarta. |
| A second quake of 6.8 struck close to Padang on Thursday. | |
| Heavy machinery | Heavy machinery |
| The first earthquake struck at 1716 local time (1016 GMT) on Wednesday, some 85km (55 miles) under the sea, north-west of Padang, the US Geological Survey said. | The first earthquake struck at 1716 local time (1016 GMT) on Wednesday, some 85km (55 miles) under the sea, north-west of Padang, the US Geological Survey said. |
| The second quake was on land and struck at 0852 local time (0152 GMT) on Thursday, about 225km south-east of Padang at a depth of about 25km. | The second quake was on land and struck at 0852 local time (0152 GMT) on Thursday, about 225km south-east of Padang at a depth of about 25km. |
| In pictures: Sumatra earthquake Quakes weaken faults | In pictures: Sumatra earthquake Quakes weaken faults |
| There were no immediate reports of damage from the second quake. | There were no immediate reports of damage from the second quake. |
| A doctor working in Padang told the BBC: "There's quite a few people that have died. At first I was thinking it was going to be in the hundreds but it's going to be in the thousands of people that have been crushed or trapped." | A doctor working in Padang told the BBC: "There's quite a few people that have died. At first I was thinking it was going to be in the hundreds but it's going to be in the thousands of people that have been crushed or trapped." |
| One resident of Padang, Siti, told Reuters news agency: "We need aid as soon as possible. We need food and medicine. Our houses have collapsed." | One resident of Padang, Siti, told Reuters news agency: "We need aid as soon as possible. We need food and medicine. Our houses have collapsed." |
| Earlier Priyadi Kardono, a spokesman for Indonesia's National Disaster Agency, said more than 500 houses and buildings had collapsed. | Earlier Priyadi Kardono, a spokesman for Indonesia's National Disaster Agency, said more than 500 houses and buildings had collapsed. |
| "Many people are staying outdoors and some people are staying in public facilities," he told Reuters. | "Many people are staying outdoors and some people are staying in public facilities," he told Reuters. |
| Mr Kardono said about 150 military personnel, as well as police and health ministry workers, were in the affected area, but they urgently needed heavy machinery to lift the rubble. | Mr Kardono said about 150 military personnel, as well as police and health ministry workers, were in the affected area, but they urgently needed heavy machinery to lift the rubble. |
| The quake brought down telephone lines, severely affecting communications with the region and making it difficult to assess the scale of the damage. | The quake brought down telephone lines, severely affecting communications with the region and making it difficult to assess the scale of the damage. |
| Speaking on Wednesday, Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said a coordinated relief effort was underway. | Speaking on Wednesday, Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said a coordinated relief effort was underway. |
| He said military planes were flying medical equipment and personnel to the affected region. | He said military planes were flying medical equipment and personnel to the affected region. |
| Burning buildings | Burning buildings |
| Witnesses to the first quake said residents ran out of buildings in Padang - which has a population of 900,000 - and surrounding cities. | Witnesses to the first quake said residents ran out of buildings in Padang - which has a population of 900,000 - and surrounding cities. |
| MAJOR INDONESIAN QUAKES 26 Dec 2004: Asian tsunami kills 170,000 in Indonesia alone28 March 2005: About 1,300 killed after a magnitude 8.7 quake hits the coast of Sumatra27 May 2006: Quake hits ancient city of Yogyakarta, killing 5,00017 July 2006: A tsunami after a 7.7 magnitude quake in West Java province kills 550 people Animated guide: Earthquakes | MAJOR INDONESIAN QUAKES 26 Dec 2004: Asian tsunami kills 170,000 in Indonesia alone28 March 2005: About 1,300 killed after a magnitude 8.7 quake hits the coast of Sumatra27 May 2006: Quake hits ancient city of Yogyakarta, killing 5,00017 July 2006: A tsunami after a 7.7 magnitude quake in West Java province kills 550 people Animated guide: Earthquakes |
| Jane Liddon, an Australian businesswoman in Padang, told Australian radio many large buildings in the town had been severely damaged. | Jane Liddon, an Australian businesswoman in Padang, told Australian radio many large buildings in the town had been severely damaged. |
| "The concrete buildings are all down, the hospitals, the main markets, down and burned," she said. | "The concrete buildings are all down, the hospitals, the main markets, down and burned," she said. |
| "A lot of people died in there. A lot of places are burning." | "A lot of people died in there. A lot of places are burning." |
| But Ms Liddon said many smaller residential properties had escaped the damage. | But Ms Liddon said many smaller residential properties had escaped the damage. |
| Australia has offered to send emergency assistance to Indonesia if needed. | Australia has offered to send emergency assistance to Indonesia if needed. |
| "They are very close friends and neighbours. They know that we are here and available to help. They just have to ask," said Aid Minister Bob McMullan. | "They are very close friends and neighbours. They know that we are here and available to help. They just have to ask," said Aid Minister Bob McMullan. |
| Indonesian officials have said the quake was one of the biggest in Indonesia in recent years and could have been more powerful than the 2006 Yogyakarta quake that killed more then 5,000 people. | Indonesian officials have said the quake was one of the biggest in Indonesia in recent years and could have been more powerful than the 2006 Yogyakarta quake that killed more then 5,000 people. |
| Wednesday's quake was along the same fault line that spawned the 2004 Asian tsunami that killed more than 230,000 people in a dozen countries. | Wednesday's quake was along the same fault line that spawned the 2004 Asian tsunami that killed more than 230,000 people in a dozen countries. |
| That much more powerful earthquake struck roughly 600km north-west of Padang. | That much more powerful earthquake struck roughly 600km north-west of Padang. |
| Geologists have long warned that Padang could one day be completely destroyed by an earthquake because of its location. | Geologists have long warned that Padang could one day be completely destroyed by an earthquake because of its location. |
| Western Sumatra is a mainly rural area with dense tropical forest. | Western Sumatra is a mainly rural area with dense tropical forest. |
| It has several national parks and many of its beaches are popular with surfers. | It has several national parks and many of its beaches are popular with surfers. |
| Are you in the area? Have you been affected by the earthquake? Send us your experiences using the form below: | Are you in the area? Have you been affected by the earthquake? Send us your experiences using the form below: |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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