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| Indonesia quake deaths pass 500 | Indonesia quake deaths pass 500 |
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| At least 529 people are now known to have died in a powerful quake that struck the Indonesian island of Sumatra on Wednesday, the government says. | At least 529 people are now known to have died in a powerful quake that struck the Indonesian island of Sumatra on Wednesday, the government says. |
| Rescuers struggled on Thursday to find survivors in the rubble of hundreds of collapsed buildings. | Rescuers struggled on Thursday to find survivors in the rubble of hundreds of collapsed buildings. |
| More than 400 people have been seriously injured, and the death toll is expected to rise, officials say. | More than 400 people have been seriously injured, and the death toll is expected to rise, officials say. |
| The 7.6-magnitude quake struck close to the city of Padang, the capital of West Sumatra province. | The 7.6-magnitude quake struck close to the city of Padang, the capital of West Sumatra province. |
| The earthquake brought down hospitals, schools and shopping malls, cut power lines and triggered landslides. | The earthquake brought down hospitals, schools and shopping malls, cut power lines and triggered landslides. |
| AT THE SCENE Karishma Vaswani, BBC News, Padang | AT THE SCENE Karishma Vaswani, BBC News, Padang |
| We have seen dozens of homes and buildings damaged as we have made our way into Padang, one of the areas believed worst affected by the powerful earthquake. | We have seen dozens of homes and buildings damaged as we have made our way into Padang, one of the areas believed worst affected by the powerful earthquake. |
| There are huge cracks in the concrete roads here, a few feet wide, showing the full force of the tremors. Rescue officials have told us some of the worst damage is in the heart of the city where they say a shopping mall has collapsed. At Padang airport scores of families from across the country arrived this morning looking for their loved ones. | There are huge cracks in the concrete roads here, a few feet wide, showing the full force of the tremors. Rescue officials have told us some of the worst damage is in the heart of the city where they say a shopping mall has collapsed. At Padang airport scores of families from across the country arrived this morning looking for their loved ones. |
| Phone lines in the area are still down so communication is a challenge, but many in Padang have ventured out, driving around the city in motorcycles and in cars to assess the extent of the damage. | Phone lines in the area are still down so communication is a challenge, but many in Padang have ventured out, driving around the city in motorcycles and in cars to assess the extent of the damage. |
| The social affairs ministry gave the latest confirmed death toll of 529, but Rustam Pakaya, head of the health ministry's disaster centre in Jakarta, said: "Our prediction is that thousands have died." | The social affairs ministry gave the latest confirmed death toll of 529, but Rustam Pakaya, head of the health ministry's disaster centre in Jakarta, said: "Our prediction is that thousands have died." |
| A second quake of 6.8 struck close to Padang at 0852 local time (0152 GMT) on Thursday but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. | A second quake of 6.8 struck close to Padang at 0852 local time (0152 GMT) on Thursday but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. |
| 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. |
| One of the worst disasters appeared to be the collapse of a school in Padang. | One of the worst disasters appeared to be the collapse of a school in Padang. |
| One mother, Andriana, told AFP news agency she had been at the school since the first quake occurred, hoping for news of her 14-year-old daughter. | One mother, Andriana, told AFP news agency she had been at the school since the first quake occurred, hoping for news of her 14-year-old daughter. |
| "I haven't been home yet and keep praying to God my daughter is alive." | "I haven't been home yet and keep praying to God my daughter is alive." |
| Police said nine children had been found alive but that eight bodies had also been pulled from the rubble so far. | Police said nine children had been found alive but that eight bodies had also been pulled from the rubble so far. |
| In pictures: Sumatra earthquake 'We really need help' The Pacific 'Ring of Fire' | |
| David Lange, a doctor with Surfaid International, told the BBC one of the hospitals was "completely destroyed". | David Lange, a doctor with Surfaid International, told the BBC one of the hospitals was "completely destroyed". |
| "They are trying to operate in the parking lot, in a tent, in the mud." | "They are trying to operate in the parking lot, in a tent, in the mud." |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Health ministry teams and Indonesian soldiers have arrived in Padang to aid the search for survivors. A shortage of heavy machinery remains a problem. | Health ministry teams and Indonesian soldiers have arrived in Padang to aid the search for survivors. A shortage of heavy machinery remains a problem. |
| The first flights carrying food, medicine and body bags have started to arrive. Tents and blankets were also on their way to help the homeless, the health ministry said. | The first flights carrying food, medicine and body bags have started to arrive. Tents and blankets were also on their way to help the homeless, the health ministry said. |
| Padang's main hospital received a stream of ambulances bringing in victims. Relatives searched through lists of names pinned on windows. | Padang's main hospital received a stream of ambulances bringing in victims. Relatives searched through lists of names pinned on windows. |
| Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is now flying to Padang. | Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is now flying to Padang. |
| "Let's not underestimate [the disaster]," he said as he left Jakarta. "Let's be prepared for the worst. We will do everything we can to help the victims." | "Let's not underestimate [the disaster]," he said as he left Jakarta. "Let's be prepared for the worst. We will do everything we can to help the victims." |
| 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. |
| PADANG: KEY FACTS Population of 900,000, capital of West Sumatra provinceOn coastal plain, surrounded by mountains inlandLies on one of world's most active fault linesNear major quake epicentres in March 2007 and April 2005 | PADANG: KEY FACTS Population of 900,000, capital of West Sumatra provinceOn coastal plain, surrounded by mountains inlandLies on one of world's most active fault linesNear major quake epicentres in March 2007 and April 2005 |
| An American in Padang, Greg Hunt, told Reuters this was the worst earthquake he had experienced. | An American in Padang, Greg Hunt, told Reuters this was the worst earthquake he had experienced. |
| "It's getting nasty in town. It's chaos. There's no fuel, people are looting. It's getting worse because people have no food, no money. | "It's getting nasty in town. It's chaos. There's no fuel, people are looting. It's getting worse because people have no food, no money. |
| "There's thousands trying to leave town, the roads are blocked." | "There's thousands trying to leave town, the roads are blocked." |
| Australia has offered to send emergency assistance to Indonesia if needed. | Australia has offered to send emergency assistance to Indonesia if needed. |
| 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 |
| "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 quake struck roughly 600km north-west of Padang. | That quake 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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