This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6421823.stm

The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 15 Version 16
Deadly earthquake hits Indonesia Deadly earthquake hits Indonesia
(about 2 hours later)
A powerful earthquake has struck the Indonesian island of Sumatra, killing at least 70 people and flattening hundreds of buildings. A powerful earthquake has hit the Indonesian island of Sumatra, flattening hundreds of buildings and killing at least 70 people.
The US Geological Survey said the quake had a magnitude of 6.3, and was centred near the town of Padang. The 6.3 magnitude quake struck close to the city of Padang in the west of the island, at 1049 local time (0349 GMT).
There are fears the death toll may be higher as many people are believed to have been trapped beneath rubble. Rescue teams are trying to reach survivors but communications and electricity supplies have been cut.
The quake struck at 1049 local time (0349 GMT), causing panic among residents in western Sumatra. As night fell, many people around Padang remained out in the open, too afraid or unable to return home.
It was like the being in a ship where you were swayed around when there were big waves Solok resident class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6422945.stm">Eyewitness accounts A strong aftershock - magnitude 6.0 according to the US Geological Survey - struck two hours later causing further damage and panic. The quake and a powerful aftershock had caused panic among residents on Tuesday morning, bringing many rushing out of their homes and offices.
Rescue workers confirmed that hundreds of buildings had collapsed although the BBC's Lucy Williamson in Jakarta says many of these are likely to be small, wooden houses. It was like the being in a ship where you were swayed around when there were big waves Solok resident class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6422945.stm">Eyewitness accounts "The houses were all swaying away, so were the things inside and lots of the houses collapsed," a man in Padang told the BBC.
Rescue workers said hundreds of buildings had been brought down, although the BBC's Lucy Williamson in Jakarta says many of these are likely to be small, wooden houses.
Residents of some coastal areas fled to higher ground, but local officials said there was no risk of a tsunami as the earthquake happened under land rather than under the sea.
Communications cutCommunications cut
Indonesian television pictures showed concrete buildings that had partially collapsed or had large cracks running through them. The epicentre of the quake was about 50km (30 miles) north-east of Padang, the capital of West Sumatra.
The epicentre of the quake was about 50km (30 miles) north-east of Padang. RECENT INDONESIAN QUAKES 6 March 2007: Magnitude 6.3 quake hits Sumatra, at least 70 dead18 December 2006: Mag 5.7 quake hits Sumatra, seven dead17 July 2006: Tsunami from Mag 7.7 quake off Java kills 50027 May 2006: Mag 6.2 quake near Yogyakarta kills 5,00026 December 2004: Tsunami from Mag 9.1 quake kills 130,000 in Sumatra Electricity cuts are causing communication problems and it may be some time before the final number of dead and injured and the full extent of the damage are known.
Emergency officials are scrambling to co-ordinate rescue efforts, but communications to some of the affected areas have been cut. Officials said 18 people had been killed in the town of Solok, while 16 were killed in Tanah Datar.
Padang, the capital of West Sumatra, has lost its electricity supply and telephone lines are down. The mayor of Solok, Samsurahim, said he could not say how many people were still trapped in the rubble.
The lack of power has the led the army to evacuate residents from the town of Batusangkar near the epicentre. Local hospitals struggled to cope and medical teams hastily erected tents to treat many of the wounded outside.
RECENT INDONESIAN QUAKES 6 March 2007: Magnitude 6.3 quake hits Sumatra, at least 70 dead18 December 2006: Mag 5.7 quake hits Sumatra, seven dead17 July 2006: Tsunami from Mag 7.7 quake off Java kills 50027 May 2006: Mag 6.2 quake near Yogyakarta kills 5,00026 December 2004: Tsunami from Mag 9.1 quake kills 130,000 in Sumatra
Emergency teams are searching at least three towns that are known to have been hit, assessing the damage and trying to count the number of people killed.
Officials said 18 people had been killed in the town of Solok while 16 were killed in Tanah Datar.
The mayor of Solok, Samsurahim, said the casualty figure may rise higher still.
"I cannot predict how many people are still trapped because the process is still on," he said.
"However, there are many houses collapsed, and I believe that the inhabitants are in them."
Hospitals have been overwhelmed with wounded and officials have appealed for medicine and communications equipment.
Tents have been set up on playing fields in Solok and Padang to help treat the hundreds of wounded.
Collapse fears
Christelle Chapoy, from the aid charity Oxfam's earthquake response team, told the BBC her organisation was ready to assist.Christelle Chapoy, from the aid charity Oxfam's earthquake response team, told the BBC her organisation was ready to assist.
"We have a standby emergency response team based in Yogyakarta [on Java], and they're collecting information from our local partners at this stage," she said from Banda Aceh in northern Sumatra."We have a standby emergency response team based in Yogyakarta [on Java], and they're collecting information from our local partners at this stage," she said from Banda Aceh in northern Sumatra.
Officials fear people are buried beneath rubbleThe first tremors brought people rushing out of their homes. Ring of fire
"The houses were all swaying away so were the things inside and lots of the houses collapsed," a man in Padang told the BBC. The quake was also felt hundreds of kilometres away in parts of Malaysia, and several tall buildings in Singapore's business district swayed slightly.
Indonesian television showed pictures of panic and confusion at one hospital as patients and staff rushed outside, fearing the building would collapse.
Residents of some coastal areas fled to higher ground, but local officials said there was no risk of a tsunami as the earthquake happened under land rather than under the sea.
The quake was also felt in western coastal areas of Malaysia, and several tall buildings in Singapore's business district swayed slightly due to the tremor.
Traders said there was no impact on financial trading.
Indonesia sits on the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, and experiences frequent earthquakes - as well as tsunamis triggered by underwater earthquakes.Indonesia sits on the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, and experiences frequent earthquakes - as well as tsunamis triggered by underwater earthquakes.
Last year, more than 500 people died when a tsunami hit an area of the Java coast after an undersea earthquake.Last year, more than 500 people died when a tsunami hit an area of the Java coast after an undersea earthquake.
And in the Asian tsunami of December 2004, over 130,000 people died in Sumatra when waves destroyed swathes of the province of Aceh. And in the Asian tsunami of December 2004, more than 130,000 people died in Sumatra when waves destroyed swathes of the province of Aceh.
Are you in the area or do you know anyone affected by the quake? Send us your comments using the form:
Are you in the area or do you know anyone affected by the quake? Send us your comments using the form:
NameName