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Indonesia: Over 380 killed in twin quakes
At least 384 people were killed while hundreds are still missing in the Indonesian island of Sulawesi after powerful twin earthquakes and a tsunami struck the area on Friday.
Jakarta: At least 384 people were killed while hundreds are still missing in the Indonesian island of Sulawesi after powerful twin earthquakes and a tsunami struck the area on Friday.
Confirming the toll, Indonesia's Disaster Management Agency spokesperson Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said most of the deaths occurred due to the quake and not because of the tsunami. Authorities have warned that the death toll could rise in the coming days, The Strait Times reported.
He added that electricity and communications were snapped off, making it difficult for authorities to assess the damage both in Palu and Donggala, the two places which were affected by Friday's disaster.
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Residents have been warned not to go inside their houses and venture near poles and trees due to possible aftershocks.
Rescuers on Saturday scrambled through debris, searching for survivors and rushing the injured for medical treatment. Scores of people were forced to stay outdoors as their houses collapsed during the calamity.
The Indonesian Navy had also joined the rescue efforts, deploying several logistic planes carrying supplies and aid to help the stranded and injured people.
On Friday, an earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale hit the island. According to the National and Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), the quake originated 10 km deep, 27 km northeast of the Central Sulawesi town of Donggala. This came in the wake of a 6.1 magnitude temblor jolting the island earlier on that day, killing at least one person and injuring 10 others. Dozens of houses collapsed as a result. (ANI)