JAKARTA (INDONESIA) – A powerful tremor hit the Indonesian island of Sulawesi in the wee hours of Friday, killing at least 35 and leaving several trapped under debris. Authorities have warned of more aftershocks which can trigger a tsunami.
The quake damaged more than 300 homes and two hotels and razed a hospital to the ground. The office of the regional governor was also damaged and several people are trapped under its debris. Thousands fled their homes when the magnitude 6.2-tremor struck 6 km (3.73 miles) northeast of the town of Majene, at a depth of just 10 km.
“Praise be to God, for now OK, but we just felt another aftershock,” said Sukri Efendy, a 26-year-old resident.
According to Darno Majid, chief of the disaster agency in West Sulawesi, 35 people are believed to be dead in Majene and in the neighbouring district of Mamuju and the death toll is likely to rise.
The tremors have triggered three landslides, severed power lines and damaged bridges linking to regional hubs such as the city of Makassar.
Initial reports show that 637 people were injured in Majene.
Dwikorita Karnawati of Indonesia’s Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) said that aftershocks could follow, with a possibility that another powerful quake could trigger a tsunami.
She had there had been at least 26 aftershocks.
President Joko Widodo condoled the fatalities in a video statement, urging people to remain calm.