JAKARTA: At least 34 people were killed and hundreds injured following a 6.2-magnitude earthquake that shook Indonesia’s Sulawesi Island early on Friday morning, prompting landslides and destroying houses.
Thousands of people fled their homes to seek safety when the 6.2-magnitude earthquake hit just after 1am local time on Friday morning. The epicentre was six kilometres north-east of Majene city in West Sulawesi.
The earthquake and aftershocks caused three landslides, cut electricity, damaged bridges to regional hubs such as the city of Makassar, and damaged more than 60 homes, two hotels and the provincial governor’s office, where at least two people were buried under rubble, authorities said.
Darno Majid, chief of the disaster agency in West Sulawesi, told an international news agency that 35 people had been killed in Majene, and in the neighbouring district of Mamuju, with more deaths likely to be confirmed as rescue workers fanned out.
Initial information from the national disaster mitigation agency showed that 637 people had been injured in Majene, and two dozen in Mamuju.
West Sulawesi provincial government spokesman Safaruddin said authorities needed to restore telecommunications, mend several damaged bridges and deliver tents, food and medical supplies.
Videos showed residents fleeing to higher ground on motorcycles, and a child trapped under the rubble as people tried to remove debris with their hands.
A child who is still alive trapped under rubble after the earthquake in West Sulawesi. pic.twitter.com/mrBskAZcRv
— Saifulbahri Ismail (@saifulCNA) January 15, 2021
“The hospital is flattened – it collapsed,” said Arianto from the rescue agency in Mamuju city. “There are patients and hospital employees trapped under the rubble and we’re now trying to reach them,” he added, without giving a specific figure.
‘Aftershocks’
No tsunami warning was issued but the head of Indonesia’s Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), Dwikorita Karnawati, told that aftershocks could follow, with a possibility that another powerful quake could trigger a tsunami.
“The aftershocks could be as strong, or stronger, than this morning’s quake,” said Dwikorita Karnawati. “There is potential for a tsunami from subsequent aftershocks. Don’t wait for a tsunami first because they can happen very quickly,” she added.
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