Landslide deaths feared in N. Sulawesi

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)