Nine dead in C. Sulawesi earthquake

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)