Central Sulawesi earthquake death toll reaches 17<\/p>\n
MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): The death toll from the
\ntectonic earthquake in Central Sulawesi has reached at least 17,
\nan emergency official said on Friday.<\/p>\n
Zein Zubedi, who is in charge of the emergency post in Luwuk
\nBanggai, said most of the victims were residents of Banggai
\nisland.<\/p>\n
\"Fourteen victims were residents of Banggai island -- five
\nfrom Salakan district, six from Banggai district, two from
\nTotikung district and one from Liang district.\"<\/p>\n
Another three victims were from Luwuk and Lamala districts in
\nBanggai regency on mainland Central Sulawesi, he said. \"But we
\nhave yet to identify all of the deceased. We have already
\nidentified two, Nirwan Hibai and Frans Kekong.\"<\/p>\n
He said the death toll was expected to increase as search
\nteams covered more area.<\/p>\n
The earthquake, measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale, also
\ndestroyed hundreds of buildings and houses.<\/p>\n
Records made available by the Luwuk Banggai regency at 6 p.m.
\nlocal time on Friday indicated that thousands of private homes
\nand hundreds of government buildings were damaged by the
\ntrembler. Banggai Seaport also was damaged in the earthquake.<\/p>\n
The Meteorology and Geophysics Agency in Makassar recorded 200
\ntremors since the quake struck on Thursday. \"About 15 tremors per
\nhour, but the tremors were all small and had no impact at all,\"
\nSunaryo, the head of the agency, said.<\/p>\n
He said the intensity of the tremors had abated on Friday, but
\nwarned residents to remain on the alert.<\/p>\n
Sunaryo said both Luwuk Banggai island and mainland Luwuk
\nBanggai remained vulnerable to earthquakes. \"The areas are in the
\nnorthern volcanic fracture zone linked to Maluku.\"<\/p>\n
South Sulawesi is also is prone to earthquake activity, he
\nsaid, with two earthquakes hitting the area in August and October
\nlast year.<\/p>\n
The Meteorology and Geophysics Agency in Jakarta said
\nThursday's quake was felt in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, and
\nTernate, North Maluku.<\/p>\n
According to the agency, the tectonic earthquake, which caused
\nhuge waves along the Banggai islands, occurred 68 kilometers
\nbeneath sea level.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Dirwan Masulili from the emergency post in Luwuk
\nBanggai said of the seven districts hit by the quake, Salakan
\ndistrict was probably the most devastated. \"Almost all the
\nbuildings in the district were destroyed.\"<\/p>\n
Only four districts have sent in damage reports from the
\nquake, Dirwan said. \"We are finding it difficult to get
\ninformation from the three districts of Totikung, Banggai and
\nBulagi because roads to and from the districts were totally
\ndestroyed. The electricity supply has also been disrupted.\"<\/p>\n
\"Walkie-talkies or two-way radio are the only means of
\ncommunication with the three isolated districts,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Dirwan said a full damage report had yet to be compiled,
\nadding that those who lost their homes in the earthquake were
\nbeing sheltered in tents. (27\/sur)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/central-sulawesi-earthquake-death-toll-reaches-17-1447893297",
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