JAKARTA, Feb 28 (NNN-ANTARA) – At least 10 people were killed and about 13,000 others displaced, after a 6.1-magnitude quake rocked Indonesia’s western province of West Sumatra on Friday, officials said yesterday.
Head of the Operation Unit of the Search and Rescue Office of West Sumatra Province, Octavianto, said, rescuers had discovered one more body, bringing the death toll to 10, while five others are still missing.
The search for the missing persons was hampered by thick mud, as well as, fears of further aftershocks, he said.
“The mud is very thick, hampering our movement, and the landslide area is about three sq km. Besides, aftershocks may happen and trigger other landslides,” Octavianto said.
Search for the missing in the landslide in Malampah village, Pasaman district, will resume today, with over 50 rescuers, according to him.
Pasaman district and Pasaman Barat district were the hardest hit by the tremor, according to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency.
The number of evacuees jumped to about 13,000 yesterday, head of the Operation Unit of the Disaster Management and Mitigation Agency of West Sumatra Province, Jumaidi, said, adding that, the displaced people now stay in more than 35 evacuation centres.
He added, emergency relief aid have arrived in the quake-affected areas.– NNN-ANTARA