Quake causes billions in losses

UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi: The earthquake that shook the province Sunday caused losses of about Rp 11.7 billion (US$3.9 million), Antara reported yesterday.

The quake, measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale, hit the areas of Pinrang, Pare-pare, Sidrap and Barru. Worst hit was Pinrang where the quake caused material losses of Rp 6.8 billion, according to S.N. Sitepu, the secretary of the South Sulawesi Agency for Natural Disaster Management.

The local Meteorology and Geophysics Agency has recorded 21 aftershocks in Pinrang since Sunday, with the most intense one reaching 4.5 on Wednesday. Eighteen people were killed and 331 others were injured in the quake. (swe)