Indonesia: Quake-tsunami casualties exceed 1,500

Indonesia announced on October 5 the death toll from a powerful earthquake and tsunami that struck the country’s Central Sulawesi province a week ago has swollen to 1,558.
Indonesia: Quake-tsunami casualties exceed 1,500 ảnh 1Rescue members transfer a body at a collapsed hotel in Palu, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. (Photo: Xinhua/ VNA)

Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesia announced on October 5 the deathtoll from a powerful earthquake and tsunami that struck the country’s CentralSulawesi province a week ago has swollen to 1,558.

As rescue and recovery efforts continue, power supply has been restoredin some areas while many shops have re-opened.

According to the Indonesian National Disaster Mitigation Agency, 113people are still unaccounted for and the number of people displaced reached70,821.

Palu, the capital of Central Sulawesi, and the nearby coastal town ofDonggala are the two worst-hit areas which saw most of the deaths after bearingthe brunt of the tsunami waves up to 6 metres high.

As many survivors still desperately wait for basic supplies and otherkinds of help, many shops, minimarts and even vehicles carrying humanitarianassistance have been looted.

The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) said people can access the RestoringFamily Links (RFL) website or visit its office in Palu to submit reports ofmissing relatives.

The website allows people to independently fill outdigital forms to let others know that they are alive, and/or to inform thepublic of missing relatives.

Central Sulawesi was ravaged by two devastating quakes measuring 6.1and 7.5 on the Richter scale on September 28. The second was followed by gianttsunami waves on the afternoon of the same day, destroying thousands of housesand roads.

The United Nations said that nearly 200,000 Indonesians, including tensof thousands of children, are in need of urgent aid.

Indonesia is frequently struck by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions andtsunamis because of its location on the "Ring of Fire", an arc ofvolcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific Basin.

A series of earthquakes in July and August killed nearly 500 people on theholiday island of Lombok, hundreds of kilometres southwest of Sulawesi.

In December 2004, a massive 9.1-magnitude earthquake off the northernIndonesian island of Sumatra triggered a tsunami across the Indian Oceancountries, killing 220,000 people in 13 countries, including more than 168,000in Indonesia. –VNA 
VNA

See more

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (left) and his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim at the joint press conference. (Photo: Kyodo/VNA)

Japan strengthens commitment to Southeast Asia

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on January 10 met with his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim during his visit to the Southeast Asian country, pledging to enhance cooperation in addressing urgent regional and international challenges, including tensions in the East Sea, the Middle East, and the ongoing crisis in Myanmar.

Foreign tourists in Thailand. (Photo: seasia.co)

Thai tourism ends 2024 on a high note

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has reported a strong end to 2024, welcoming 35.5 million international visitors and surpassing expectations.

Cambodia records first death from H5N1 in 2025

Cambodia records first death from H5N1 in 2025

A 28-year-old man from Cambodia's southeast Kampong Cham province died of H5N1 human avian influenza on January 10, becoming the first death in 2025, according to the Cambodian Ministry of Health.

Le Champ Tu Le Resort Hot Spring & Spa in Yen Bai province (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, India, Indonesia set for travel “bonanza”

Vietnam, India, and Indonesia are set for a tourism “bonanza” as their middle classes expand and grow wealthier, India’s Economic Times quoted deputy chief executive officer of hotel group Accor SA Jean-Jacques Morin as saying.

Illustrative image (Photo: Bangkok Post)

Myanmar ranks second in Thai condo sales

Thai condo transfers to Myanmar buyers ranked second in the first nine months of 2024, setting a new record last year as the nine-month figure already surpassed that recorded in 2023.

A heavily congested road in Bangkok on January 9, 2025. (Photo: Bangkokpost.com)

Technology helps Thai capital ease congestions

The Area Traffic Control (ATC) technology and other innovations have reduced travel time in busy spots in Bangkok by 25% after two years of implementation, according to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (L) and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at a joint press conference after talks on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur on January 10, 2025. (Photo: Kyodo News)

Japan, Malaysia concur in stepping up security cooperation

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his visiting counterpart Ishiba Shigeru on January 10 agreed to strengthen ties to ensure regional security based on the rule of law and build robust supply chains, seeking to cement their comprehensive strategic partnership.

Mount Merapi emits 17 lava flows with a maximum reach of 1,800 meters on January 4, 2025. (Photo: jakartaglobe.id)

Indonesia issues safety warning as Mount Merapi erupts

Mount Merapi, located near the densely populated city of Yogyakarta, the capital of the Special Region of Yogyakarta in Indonesia, emitted hot lava on January 10, prompting the country's Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Centre to issue a warning for the safety of nearby residents.

The BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, on October 23, 2024 (Photo: ANI/VNA)

Indonesia pins hopes on BRICS membership

Amelia Anggraini, a member of the House of Representatives (DPR) of Indonesia, has said that Indonesia’s official membership of the BRICS grouping must bring real benefits to its people.

A consumer buys rice at a market in Manila, the Philippines. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)

Philippines' rice imports hit record high in 2024

The Philippines' rice imports in 2024 rose to a new all-time high of almost 4.7 million metric tonnes (MT) as the country turned to foreign supplies to plug its shortfall in domestic stocks and temper retail prices of the staple.

Malaysia looks to leverage RCEP during ASEAN chairmanship

Malaysia looks to leverage RCEP during ASEAN chairmanship

As the Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year, Malaysia plans to focus on leveraging the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the world’s largest trade agreement now in force.