Landslide deaths feared in N. Sulawesi

JAKARTA (JP): Dozens are feared dead after landslides and an earthquake hit villages on remote islands in Sangihe Talaud regency in North Sulawesi over the weekend.

"We received reports from the local administration that the landslides took place on Saturday and since then temporary information has stated that some 31 people were killed," Soehardjono, chief of North Sulawesi's Meteorology and Geophysics Office (BMG) told The Jakarta Post by telephone from Manado the provincial capital of North Sulawesi.

Soehardjono, however, said that on Sunday the remote islands were also hit several times by tremors.

"We don't know whether the casualties resulted from the landslides or the earthquake. We're also checking on the death toll because it's quite high.

"The quake first occurred on Sunday around 4 a.m. measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale and was followed by other aftershocks," he said.

The epicenter was located in the Sulawesi sea, about 131 kilometers southwest of Bitung town, he said.

Separately BMG chief Sri Diharto and chief of the National Search and Rescue Agency (SAR) Rear Adm. Setio Rahardjo both said that they are still monitoring the situation.

"We haven't yet got further details of the incident but we will immediately send for help once we receive news of the complete situation," Setio said. (edt)