[International] Indonesia 7.7 Magnitude Earthquake Kills at Least 20; Rescue Teams Search for Survivors in Rubble
RtiTalk 小編10d ago
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Flores Island in eastern Indonesia today (15th), killing at least 20 people. Rescue workers are racing against time to save survivors from collapsed houses.
As disaster reports continue to emerge, local disaster relief agency head Fathur Rahman stated that at least 20 people have been confirmed dead in four towns on Flores Island, a popular tourist destination.
Rahman said via phone while traveling by boat to the hardest-hit district of Nagekeo: "According to the reports we received, there are 20 dead, 6 injured, and 2 buried."
In the neighboring district of Manggarai, two people are known to be trapped under rubble.
Rahman pointed out: "Our priority is to locate the victims buried under the rubble," adding that landslides have blocked several roads, making rescue operations more difficult.
An AFP reporter witnessed in Nagekeo, the closest district to the epicenter, this morning that as the sea receded, people rushed to higher ground to take shelter, signaling a potential tsunami.
The tsunami warning was lifted shortly after, but residents were still warned not to return to damaged homes for fear of collapse from aftershocks.
Since the main earthquake, dozens of perceptible aftershocks have occurred, the strongest reaching magnitude 6.1.
The shallow earthquake occurred off the coast north of Flores Island, about 68 kilometers northwest of the coastal town of Ende.
Rescue workers recovered one body from a partially collapsed building at the port of Maumere.
According to videos released by the disaster agency, Rahman said that two survivors were successfully rescued from the rubble, and one person was found dead.
The full extent of the disaster is still being assessed. (Editor: Chen Wen-wei)
Source Link: https://www.rti.org.tw/news?uid=3&pid=226411
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