Quakes jolt Palu, Donggala, Bengkulu

Quakes jolt Palu, Donggala, Bengkulu

PALU, Central Sulawesi: An earthquake measuring 5.2 on the
Richter Scale hit cities of Palu and Donggala in Central Sulawesi
in the early hours of Friday morning, but no casualties were
reported.

The earthquake in Palu and Donggala occurred around 5 a.m.
(local time), Antara reported.

Terrified residents ran outside as houses began to shake due
to the quake.

An earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter Scale also jolted
Bengkulu city of Bengkulu province at 1:54 a.m.(local time) on
the same day.

"Aftershocks were felt in Bengkulu at 8:33 a.m. and the
epicenter is believed to be in the Indonesian sea, about 298
kilometers southwest of Bengkulu," chief of Meteorological and
Geophysics Agency in Kepahiang area of Bengkulu. Paimin said as
quoted by the news agency on Friday.

The earthquake was the fifth in Bengkulu in the past six days,
he said.

"People are getting worried, but so far only minor damage has
been reported. Bengkulu is prone to earthquakes. Therefore, the
people should always be alert," he said.

A strong earthquake rocked Bengkulu on June 4 this year,
killing about 94 people and destroying thousands of buildings.

Since then the province has been shaken by at least 4,000
aftershocks with an average of three on the Richter Scale. (edt)