Irian Jaya quake injures 28 people

JAKARTA (JP): A strong earthquake hit Serui, the capital of Irian Jaya's Yapen Waropen regency yesterday, injuring 28 villagers and destroying dozens of buildings.

The Jayapura-based meteorology and geophysics office recorded the 2 a.m. quake at 5.6 on the Richter scale. The epicenter was located 33 kilometers west of Serui.

A spokesman for the regency government, Daniel Nirahua, was quoted by the Antara news agency as saying that the victims who are mostly adults, were admitted to the Serui hospital.

The worst hit area was South Yapen Waropen subdistrict, while other neighboring areas suffered no damage, he said.

He said the quake struck at time when people were fast asleep, triggering panic and this contributed to the number of people injured.

Nirahua said the regency's authorities and security officers were called in to help the victims. Yapen Waropen regent Laban Samori called his assistants to an emergency meeting to plan sending relief.

Although Yapen Waropen is not one the areas in the province susceptible to earthquakes, its residents have been warned to be vigilant of any aftershocks, Sarosa said.

The most-quake prone regencies are Paniai and Jayawijaya. Earth quakes rock the two areas every year and often claim lives and residents' property.

An earthquake was also felt in Tarutung in North Sumatra, Nias Island and Banda Aceh but there was no word of injuries or damage, Antara reported.

Local meteorology and geophysics officials said the quake that jolted the areas at 1.30 a.m. yesterday measured 4 on the Richter scale. At about the same time, a tremor measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale was also recorded in Banda Aceh in the northern tip of Sumatra.(pwn)