Nine dead in C. Sulawesi earthquake
MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): A tectonic earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale and huge tidal waves hit the Banggai islands in Central Sulawesi on Thursday, killing at least nine people and destroying hundreds of houses.
"Nine people were killed in the quake while several others suffered injuries," an official at the Palu office of the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG), Mudjianto, told The Jakarta Post.
Six of the deceased were residents of Peleng island while the other three were from Luwuk Banggai regency in mainland Central Sulawesi.
One of the three casualties from Luwuk Banggai was identified as Nirwan Hibai, a treasurer at the local legislative council office.
Mudjianto admitted details of all the victims were not yet available, saying that administration officials were now visiting the scene.
The Strasbourg Earth Science Observatory registered the earthquake at 7.3 on the Richter scale, AFP reported.
Meanwhile BMG's Makassar office head Sunaryo said the quake occurred at 11:21 a.m. local time and centered at 1.36 degrees southern latitude, 123.57 degrees eastern longitude and 33 kilometers beneath sea level.
"The quake shook across the Sulawesi, but the worst happened in central Sulawesi, especially Luwuk Banggai regency," Sunaryo said.
He said the earthquake, the epicenter of which was located at the Straits of Peleng island, some 94 kilometers southeast of Luwuk, the capital of Banggai district, at MMI VII (Mercalli scale) was also felt by locals.
"At that degree, it could damage windows of office buildings and houses," he explained.
He said the continuation of the quake might occur, but it would not as big as the beginning.
Hundreds of houses in seven subdistricts in Banggai were reportedly flattened.
The quake also caused serious damage to houses in hundreds of villages in the eastern tip of Sulawesi.
Spokesman for the provincial administration Longky Janggolo said tsunami up to six meters in height swept Luwuk and Peleng island, forcing hundreds of people to flee.
"People who lost their homes are now temporarily taking shelter in tents set up by local administration staff, and we have supplied them with rice and medicines," Longky said.
In Luwuk, some 607 km east of Palu, capital of Central Sulawesi, a pier was seriously damaged, tens of houses collapsed, and a market burned down due to a short circuit.
Residents in the northern part of Makassar said they also felt the earthquake, but that it did not cause panic among residents.
A similar quake and tsunami jolted Tonggolobibi village in Donggala in 1994. (27/jun)