Fri 15 January 2021:
The death toll from a powerful earthquake hitting Indonesia’s Sulawesi Island has risen to 34, the national disaster agency said on Friday.
Eight fatalities were reported in Majene Regency, while 26 others were killed in Mamuju Regency after the magnitude 6.2 quake struck six kilometers (3.73 miles) northeast of the Majene city, at a depth of 10 km (6.2 mi).
Several thousand panicked residents fled their homes to seek safety after the quake, which did not trigger a tsunami warning but was felt strongly for about seven seconds, the statement said.
An expert from the country’s meteorology, climatology, and geophysical agency, BMKG, warned that aftershocks could trigger a possible tsunami.
In an online press conference, BMKG Prof Dwikorita Karnawati has advised residents in the area to take precaution and move to higher ground.
“There is potential for a tsunami from subsequent aftershocks… Don’t wait for a tsunami first because they can happen very quickly,” she added.
Hours earlier, a 5.9 magnitude earthquake struck in the same district, damaging several houses.
Meanwhile, 637 people were reportedly injured while more than 15,000 people have been evacuated to 10 shelters from the affected areas, according to the National Disaster Management Agency.
A number of buildings were severely damaged, including the office of West Sulawesi governor, Mamuju Hospital, and a minimarket.
The strong quake also caused power and phone service outages, and landslides along roads.
In December 2004, a 9.1 magnitude quake off the north of Indonesia’s Sumatra island triggered a tsunami that swept over coastal areas of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and nine other countries, killing more than 230,000 people.
