Hundreds have been killed on Indonesia’s Sulawesi island, which was struck by a 7.7-magnitude quake – triggering a tsunami that swept through two coastal towns. Scores of houses have been flattened, burying victims under rubble.
The disaster claimed the lives of some 384 people and left around 500 injured after the tsunami hit the coastline with 3-meter (10 foot) high waves, the spokesman of Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency said on Saturday.
He added that the number of victims may further rise. The announced death toll only includes the data from Palu, but the casualties in nearby Donggala Regency are currently unknown.
Harrowing images have come from Indonesia, showing the scale of destruction that the Sulawesi quake inflicted on the towns of Palu and Donggala, located close to the epicenter of the quake that wrought havoc on the island on Friday afternoon.
The quake severely damaged roads, rendering some of them impassable.
A large bridge over a coastal river in Palu collapsed and was reduced to debris.
Spokesman for National Disaster Mitigation Agency, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, posted before and after pictures of the city’s landmark.
Rescue efforts have been hampered by a power blackout that hit the affected towns, making it impossible for the authorities to estimate the real number of victims.
Dr. H. Wiranto, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, said on Friday evening that the authorities were still having difficulties with receiving feedback from the regions severely affected by the disaster. He said that the government might have to resort to the satellite communication provided by the National Disaster Mitigation Agency if power is not restored by Sunday morning.
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The Palu airport has also been damaged, losing 500 meters of its 2,500-meter long runway. However, the authorities said the remaining length will be enough for Hercules cargo aircraft to land and bring essential supplies to the hard-hit.
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