Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They
AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e
BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German
Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who
By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
Search
Search:
Series of quakes hit Indonesia, killing 4
By MURSIDIN ODE,Associated Press Writer AP - Monday, January 5
MANOKWARI, Indonesia - A series of powerful earthquakes killed at least four people and injured dozens in remote eastern Indonesia Sunday and briefly triggered fears of another tsunami in a country still recovering from 2004's deadly waves.
One of the quakes _ a 7.3-magnitude tremor _ was felt as far away as Australia and sent small tsunamis into Japan's southeastern coast.
Residents near the epicenter in Papua province rushed from their homes in search of higher ground shortly after the first 7.6-magnitude quake struck at 4:43 a.m. local time (1943 GMT), afraid that huge waves might wash over the island.
The epicenter was about 85 miles (135 kilometers) from Papua's main city of Manokwari and occurred at a depth of 22 miles (35 kilometers), the U.S. Geological Survey said. It was followed by dozens of aftershocks.
At least four people died, dozens were injured and some 135 homes and other buildings were badly damaged or toppled in the province. Power lines fell, cutting off electricity, and the runway of Manokwari's Rendani airport was cracked, prompting the cancellation of commercial flights.
The government initially issued a tsunami warning but lifted it within an hour after it was confirmed that the epicenter was on land, not water.
Quakes centered onshore pose little tsunami threat to Indonesia itself, but those close to the coast can churn up large waves that sometimes reach the coastlines of other countries such as Japan.
Japan reported tsunamis between 4 inches (10 centimeters) and 16 inches (40 centimeters) high hitting its shores following the temblors.
A huge quake off western Indonesia caused the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that killed about 230,000 people, more than half of them on the western Indonesian island of Sumatra. Four years on, the multibillion dollar rebuilding process is almost complete.
Residents in Papua's Manokwari _ a jumble of low-lying brick and cement structures home to 167,000 people _ remained jittery late Sunday, with thousands prepared to sleep outside for fear of aftershocks.
"We don't feel safe," said Simon, 32, who was staying outside with his wife and three kids. "It's just in case there are strong aftershocks."
Local officials drove through the streets warning people not to return to structures that might be vulnerable if an aftershock hit.
The Indonesian healthy ministry was sending an aid team to Manokwari Sunday night as well as four tons of medical supplies and baby food, spokeswoman Lily Sulistyowati said.
Relief agency World Vision Indonesia was flying in 2,000 emergency provision kits, including canned food, blankets and basic medical supplies, said spokeswoman Katarina Hardono. She said its team will try to reach Manokwari by plane, but if needed will make a 36-hour trip by boat.
The National Disaster Coordination Agency said 135 houses and buildings were badly damaged or collapsed.
Hengky Tewu, director of a local hospital, said 19 patients were being treated there for broken bones, cuts, crushed fingers and other injuries.
Twenty quake patients were being treated at a navy hospital, said Ina, a nurse who, like many Indonesians, goes by a single name.
Papua _ located about 1,830 miles (2,955 kilometers) east of the capital Jakarta _ is among the nation's least developed areas, and a low-level insurgency has simmered in the resource-rich region for years. It is off limits to foreign reporters.
Indonesia straddles a chain of fault lines and volcanoes known as the Pacific "Ring of Fire" and is prone to seismic activity.
The quake was felt 800 miles (1,300 kilometers) southwest of Papua in Australia's northern city of Darwin but no damage was reported there.
__
Associated Press writers Zakki Hakim and Niniek Karmini contributed to this report from Jakarta.
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Recommend this article
Average (0 votes)
Sign in to recommend this article »
Most Recommended Stories »
Related Articles: Indonesia
Series of quakes hit Indonesia, killing 4AP - Monday, January 5
One dead as powerful quakes hit IndonesiaAFP - Monday, January 5
Series of powerful quakes kills 3 in IndonesiaAP - Sunday, January 4
Hotel collapses after powerful Indonesian quakesAFP - Sunday, January 4
Related Articles: Asia Pacific
Gaza crisis forces Rice to cancel China tripAFP - 1 hour 38 minutes ago
Sri Lanka pushes ahead with war on rebelsAP - Monday, January 5
Series of quakes hit Indonesia, killing 4AP - Monday, January 5
Report says 43 Sri Lankan soldiers killedAP - Monday, January 5
Seven dead in Pakistan suicide blast: officialsAFP - Monday, January 5
Related Full Coverage
Suharto
Former Indonesian president
All Full Coverage
Most Popular – Asia Pacific
Viewed
US steel industry in collapse, eyes government aid: report
Israeli army storms Gaza as Palestinian toll passes 500
Rare Bugatti untouched for 50 years could fetch millions: report
World's oldest person dies at the age of 115
John Travolta's teenage son dies, autopsy planned
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular