A 6.5 magnitude earthquake has claimed at least twenty-five lives, including some children, in Aceh province on Indonesia’s Sumatra island.
The effects of the undersea earthquake hit Aceh’s town of Pidie Jaya, 18 kilometres south-west of the epicentre, early this morning. On top of its immediate victims, the quake has trapped dozens of people in collapsed mosques, stores, houses and other buildings.
A local disaster official, Sulaiman, has confirmed to local MetroTV that a woman and her two children have died in the town, and that heavy equipment has been deployed to search for survivors.
Sutopo Nugroho of the national disaster management agency (BNPB) said in a statement that, “the earthquake was felt strongly and many people panicked and rushed outdoors as houses collapsed.”
Pictures and video of the disaster have already emerged on social media, including a photos of rescue supplies and body bags from the Indonesian Red Cross:
Current conditions of Pidie Jaya, Aceh #AcehEarthquake – @palangmerah pic.twitter.com/3pzUA1aRUv
— Radio Star Jogja (@starjogja) December 7, 2016
Shortage of medical staff in #AcehEarthquake affected areas reported as death and wounded tolls rise pic.twitter.com/Rt5V5VW5qA
— Lilianne Fan (@LilianneFan) December 7, 2016
PMI sends 500 family kits,500 hygiene kits,1000 blankets,1000 tarpaulins & 200 body bags. #AcehEarthquake #PMISiapBantu pic.twitter.com/E4ZgeH8wAA
— Indonesian Red Cross (@palangmerah) December 7, 2016
According to the United States Geological Survey, the earthquake struck at a relatively shallow depth of 17.2 km on Aceh’s northeastern coast. While no tsunami warning was issued, the agency did say the initial quake lead to at least five aftershocks.
Source: ABC News.
Photo: Getty / AFP.
