Death toll rises to 73 in Indonesia earthquake that saw 28,000 flee their homes -as experts fear fresh quake could bring tsunami
- The 6.2-magnitude quake hit Indonesia's West Sulawesi province on Friday, injuring more than 820 people
- Witnesses said that tens of thousands fled their homes for the mountains or cramped evacuation centres
- The head of the country's meteorological agency has warned that another quake in the region could potentially trigger a tsunami
- Two weeks into the new year, Indonesia is already managing floods, landslides, a volcanic eruption and an unexplained plane crashThe death toll from an earthquake that struck Indonesia's West Sulawesi province on Friday has risen to 73 as experts warn another quake could trigger a tsunami.
More than 820 people were injured and over 27,800 fled their homes after the 6.2-magnitude quake hit, a spokesman from the disaster mitigation agency (BNPB) said.
Some sought refuge in the mountains, while others rushed to cramped evacuation centres, witnesses said. BNPB spokesman Raditya Jati said police and military officers have been deployed to crack down on looting in several parts of the region.
An emergency response status, intended to help rescue efforts, has also been put in place for two weeks, he said.
The death toll from an earthquake that struck Indonesia's West Sulawesi province on Friday has risen to 73 as experts warn another quake could trigger a tsunami. Pictured: An aerial picture shows flattened homes in Mamuju, West Sulawesi
Rescue workers with K9 unit sniffer dogs continue to search the rubble for survivors of the earthquake. Pictured: A search of a collapsed hospital building in Mamuju, Western Sulawesi
An emergency response status, intended to help rescue efforts, has been put in place for two weeks. Pictured: A soldier carries out health checks on a woman and child at an evacuation centre
The epicentre of the quake which struck at around 1.30am on Friday was 22 miles south of the city of Mamuju and it had a relatively shallow depth of 11 miles, the United States Geological Survey said.
The earthquake came after a 5.9-magnitude tremor and at least 26 aftershocks the previous day, in a string of disasters which caused three landslides and damaged bridges to regional hubs such as the city of Makassar.
The tremors also damaged more than 60 homes, two hotels and the provincial governor's office. Electricity in the area is also out.
Jati's comments came as Dwikorita Karnawati, the head of Indonesia's meteorological, climatology and geophysical agency (BMKG), warned that another quake in the region could potentially trigger a tsunami.
More than 820 people were injured and over 27,800 fled their homes after the 6.2-magnitude quake hit, a spokesman from the disaster mitigation agency (BNPB) said. Pictured: A make shift tent housing evacuees
Some of those who fled their home sought refuge in the mountains, while others rushed to cramped evacuation centres, witnesses said. Pictured: People wash dishes outside a make shift tent in Mamuju, West Sulawesi
Volunteers distribute food for people following the quake in Mamuju, West Sulawesi. At least 73 people have been killed and tens of thousands fled their homesStraddling the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, Indonesia is regularly hit by earthquakes.
In 2018, a devastating 6.2-magnitude quake and subsequent tsunami struck the city of Palu in Sulawesi, killing thousands.
Just two weeks into the new year, the world's fourth-most populous country is battling several disasters.
Straddling the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, Indonesia is regularly hit by earthquakes. Pictured: A man rides a motorbike past a collapsed home in Mamuju, West Sulawesi
Some of those injured in the earthquake are treated outside a regional hospital on Sunday due to concerns of aftershocks in Mamuju
A patient receives treatment at a makeshift ward outside a hospital in Mamuju on Sunday due to concerns that aftershocks may collapse more buildings
Floods in North Sulawesi and South Kalimantan province have each killed at least five people this month, while 29 people died in landslides in West Java province, according to authorities.
On January 9, a Sriwijaya Air jet crashed into the Java Sea, killing all 62 people on board and East Java's Semeru mountain erupted late on Saturday, though there have been no reports of casualties or evacuations.
Dwikorita said extreme weather and other 'multi-dangers' of hydrometeorology are forecast in the coming weeks.
The disasters take place against the backdrop of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Indonesia has recorded 897,000 infections and 25,767 deaths from Covid-19.
Just two weeks into the new year, the world's fourth-most populous country is battling several disasters including flooding, landslides and an unexplained plane crash. Pictured: Police search for people trapped in the rubble at Mitra Manakarra hospital in Mamuju on Sunday
Search and rescue teams are using dogs and torches to search for people potentially still trapped under the rubble of a collapsed hospital in Mamuju (pictured), as well as many other buildings
BNPB spokesman Raditya Jati said police and military officers have been deployed to crack down on looting in several parts of the region. Pictured: Police search for people trapped under a collapsed hospital in Mamuju
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