One killed, 15 missing in E. Timor quake

One killed, 15 missing in E. Timor quake

DILI, East Timor (JP): At least one person was killed, 26 injured and 15 went missing as a tidal wave triggered by a major earth quake struck the island of Timor on Sunday night, officials said yesterday.

The quake, measuring 6.8 on the open-ended Richter scale, struck here at about 7.30 p.m. on Sunday for about 15 seconds, triggering tidal waves and sending town residents fleeing out of their homes in panic.

The quake also caused damage to more than 12 houses. Throughout Sunday night, townspeople stayed out of their houses for fear of aftershocks.

A woman crushed by the walls of her house died on the way to hospital. Nineteen people with serious injuries were still being treated at Dili General Hospital yesterday.

Hospital chief Christian Tillar said that doctors toiled until 3 a.m. yesterday trying to save the lives of three critically- injured people.

East Timor police chief Col. Andreas Sugianto said 15 people were still missing. He called on residents to be wary of stronger aftershocks.

Officials of the meteorology and geophysics agency in the East Nusa Tenggara capital of Kupang said the quake's epicenter was 33 kilometers under the sea and about 150 southeast of Dili.

Search and rescue workers have been directed to focus their attention on fishing villages on the southern coasts of the province, said agency spokesman Ahmad Lani.

The quake was also felt on Alor island, East Nusa Tenggara, but there have been no reports of casualties or damage.

The intensity of the earthquake has been debated. The meteorology and geophysics agency in Jakarta marked 5.6 on the Richter scale while its office in Kupang recorded it at 6.8.

In 1992, a quake measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale struck East Nusa Tenggara, triggering major tidal waves that killed about 2,500 people. (yac/pan)