239 buildings damaged in quake

PALU, Central Sulawesi: At least 239 buildings and public facilities in seven villages in the subdistrict of Banawa in Donggala district, were damaged in two consecutive tectonic earthquakes early Sunday, a provincial administration official said.

Ahmad Abdul Rauf, secretary of the Donggala district administration, said 30 of the buildings were severely damaged, including an elementary school, a high school and Pasar Tua market, Antara wire service reported Monday.

A quake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale was recorded, followed three minutes later by another measuring 6.1. No casualties were reported.

Rauf said local authorities had not considered it necessary to set up public kitchens as only a few people had totally lost their homes, and most had been taken in by relatives. Food has been distributed to victims by the department of social services and the Indonesian Red Cross, he said.