THREE DEAD, 24 INJURED IN WEST SULAWESI QUAKE

15 JAN 2021

JAKARTA: Three people have been confirmed killed and 24 injured in a 6.2-magnitude earthquake in West Sulawesi, Indonesia early today which left hundreds of people homeless.

In a statement, the Kabupaten Majene and Polewali Mandar Regional Disaster Management Agency (BNPD) said early data received as at 9 am showed that the earthquake, which struck at 1.28 am west Indonesian time, brought down more than 60 houses and buildings.

It is feared that the death toll could be higher as search and rescue teams were still searching for those believed trapped in the rubble.

According to the Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency (BMKG), the epicentre of the earthquake was located at 6 km Northeast Majene-West Sulawesi at a depth of 10 km.

Since yesterday, the area had recorded a series of earthquakes measuring less than 6.0 on the Richter scale.

The Kabupaten Majene and Polewali Manda BNPD said this morning's quake lasted five to six seconds, prompting panicky residents to flee their homes.

The quake did not trigger any warning of tsunami, and so far more than 2,000 people were reported to have been evacuated to relief centres. -Bernama