Central Sulawesi earthquake death toll reaches 17

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): The death toll from the tectonic earthquake in Central Sulawesi has reached at least 17, an emergency official said on Friday.

Zein Zubedi, who is in charge of the emergency post in Luwuk Banggai, said most of the victims were residents of Banggai island.

"Fourteen victims were residents of Banggai island -- five from Salakan district, six from Banggai district, two from Totikung district and one from Liang district."

Another three victims were from Luwuk and Lamala districts in Banggai regency on mainland Central Sulawesi, he said. "But we have yet to identify all of the deceased. We have already identified two, Nirwan Hibai and Frans Kekong."

He said the death toll was expected to increase as search teams covered more area.

The earthquake, measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale, also destroyed hundreds of buildings and houses.

Records made available by the Luwuk Banggai regency at 6 p.m. local time on Friday indicated that thousands of private homes and hundreds of government buildings were damaged by the trembler. Banggai Seaport also was damaged in the earthquake.

The Meteorology and Geophysics Agency in Makassar recorded 200 tremors since the quake struck on Thursday. "About 15 tremors per hour, but the tremors were all small and had no impact at all," Sunaryo, the head of the agency, said.

He said the intensity of the tremors had abated on Friday, but warned residents to remain on the alert.

Sunaryo said both Luwuk Banggai island and mainland Luwuk Banggai remained vulnerable to earthquakes. "The areas are in the northern volcanic fracture zone linked to Maluku."

South Sulawesi is also is prone to earthquake activity, he said, with two earthquakes hitting the area in August and October last year.

The Meteorology and Geophysics Agency in Jakarta said Thursday's quake was felt in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, and Ternate, North Maluku.

According to the agency, the tectonic earthquake, which caused huge waves along the Banggai islands, occurred 68 kilometers beneath sea level.

Meanwhile, Dirwan Masulili from the emergency post in Luwuk Banggai said of the seven districts hit by the quake, Salakan district was probably the most devastated. "Almost all the buildings in the district were destroyed."

Only four districts have sent in damage reports from the quake, Dirwan said. "We are finding it difficult to get information from the three districts of Totikung, Banggai and Bulagi because roads to and from the districts were totally destroyed. The electricity supply has also been disrupted."

"Walkie-talkies or two-way radio are the only means of communication with the three isolated districts," he said.

Dirwan said a full damage report had yet to be compiled, adding that those who lost their homes in the earthquake were being sheltered in tents. (27/sur)