Friday, October 2, 2009

Up to 200 Dead in Indonesia Earthquake

Sept. 30: A map shows the epicenter of the powerful earthquake near the island of Sumatra.(USGS)
A powerful earthquake rocked western Indonesia Wednesday, trapping thousands under collapsed buildings — including two hospitals — and triggering landslides. Priyadi Kardono, a spokesman for the national disaster agency, told Reuters that up to 200 people are dead on the island of Sumatra.The magnitude 7.6 quake struck at 5:15 p.m. local time, just off the coast of Padang city the U.S. Geological Survey said. It was along the same fault line that spawned the massive 2004 Asian tsunami that killed more than 230,000 people in a dozen countries.A tsunami warning for countries along the Indian Ocean was issued, and panicked residents fled to higher ground fearing giant waves. The warning was lifted about an hour later.....

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