Central Sulawesi earthquake death toll reaches 17
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)
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)