Indonesia earthquake: Initial casualty report 20 deaths
Hanoi (VNA) – An
earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale struck at dawn in Aceh province,
north of Sumatra, leaving at least 20 people dead and dozens of others injured,
said Indonesian authorities on December 7.
The earthquake occurred in the
morning when people were preparing for morning prayers.
Apriadi Achmad, a local
official, said the local government has mobilised heavy equipment and vehicles
to assist search and rescue efforts for more than 50 people.
Residents in the coastal town
Sigli were evacuated due to tsunami concerns.
An official from the Climatological
and Geophysical Agency in Aceh said at
least five aftershocks happened a few hours after the earthquake.
Indonesia often
experiences earthquakes and volcanoes because it lies in the Pacific Ring of
Fire.
In 2004, Aceh
suffered severe consequences caused by the 9.2-Richter earthquake that
triggered a tsunami in the Indian Ocean.-VNA