C. Sulawesi quake toll reaches 26

C. Sulawesi quake toll reaches 26

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): The death toll from a Central
Sulawesi earthquake reached 26 on Saturday, with searches for
victims continuing after the devastating tectonic earthquake
struck on Thursday.

Secretary to the emergency post in Banggai regency, Musdar M.
Amin, told The Jakarta Post on Saturday that more than 153 people
were severely injured. "Forty-three of them are in critical
condition. The injured are being treated at the district's
emergency posts."

Most of the victims were residents of Luwuk Banggai island and
the rest were from mainland Luwuk Banggai, he said.

The Navy has deployed four of its warships to help find
victims of the quake, which caused huge waves along the islands.

Many people are feared to be buried in isolated islands after
the huge waves, more than two meters in height, struck.

The Navy's four ships are KRI Kerapu, KRI Multatuli, KRI Tjut
Njak Dien and a Landing Ship Tank, KRI Sangkurilang.

Commander of the Palu, Central Sulawesi naval base, Col.
Ishak, said the four ships left their base in Maluku, Manado
(North Sulawesi), and Surabaya (East Java) on Saturday morning
and were expected to reach Luwuk by Saturday night or Sunday
morning.

He added that the Navy would also help the quake-hit residents
with medicines and staple food supplies.

The emergency post also recorded that more than 250 government
offices, 64 churches, 92 mosques, 182 schools, 15 health centers
and approximately 11,000 residential houses were damaged by the
quake, which measured 6.5 on the Richter scale.

The quake occurred 68 kilometers below sea level.

"A total of 148 roads and 15 bridges were destroyed," Musdar
said, adding that aftershocks upset the residents on Saturday.

The Meteorology and Geophysics Agency in Makassar have
recorded at least 200 aftershocks since the quake hit.

Thursday's quake was also felt in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan,
and Ternate, North Maluku.

According to the agency, both Luwuk Banggai island and
mainland Luwuk Banggai, the most affected areas, are vulnerable
to earthquakes. The areas are located in the northern volcanic
fracture zone linked to Maluku. (27/sur)