More than 1,000 people were feared dead and many more trapped under collapsed buildings after a powerful earthquake hit the Indonesian island of Sumatra. But still 3000 people missing.
Hundreds of homes and businesses were reduced to rubble when the earthquake struck near the city of Padang, along the same fault line that caused the 2004 Asian tsunami.
The 7.6 magnitude tremor came at 5.16pm local time and could be felt in high buildings in the capital, Jakarta, several hundred miles away, and in neighbouring Singapore and Malaysia. A tsunami alert was sent out to countries along the Indian Ocean, prompting many to flee to higher ground.
The quake was followed by dozens of aftershocks, two of which were over 6.0-magnitude
It came just hours after another earthquake sparked a tsumani devastating the Pacific islands of American and Western Samoa to the east of Australia.
The Indonesian death toll was initially set at 1000 but health ministry crisis centre head Rustam Pakaya gave warning it could exceed 1,500 in the city of close to one million residents.
Thousands of people were trapped as buildings, roads and bridges collapsed and a landslide cut power and telecommunications, resulting in further confusion.
The crisis was exacerbated by the collapse of the city's main hospital and fires which broke out as power lines were severed.
There were also fears the tremors could trigger volcanic eruptions near Padang, which lies near the colliding Indo-Australian and Eurasian tectonic plates.
A spokesman for the Geological Disaster Mitigation and Volcanology Centre said: "There will be aftershocks but it's difficult to predict whether there will be a bigger quake.
"There are three big volcanoes in West Sumatra – Merapi, Talang and Tandikat. We fear that this quake might cause volcanic eruptions there."
"It is critical that we get people into the quake zone as soon as possible to find out what has happened," he said. "If buildings have collapsed then people are likely to be in urgent need of food, water and especially shelter. The injured will also need medical assistance."
A resident of Padang city, Yuliarni, said the shaking was "the worst I have ever felt".
"Houses have collapsed, the lights and electricity were cut off, people were fleeing to higher ground and some were hurt," she added.
Padang, the capital of Indonesia's West Sumatra province, sits on one of the world's most active fault lines along the "Ring of Fire" where the Into-Australia plate grinds against the Eurasia plate to create regular earth tremors.
Geologists warned that Padang was vulnerable to more quakes and tsunamis, and even a volcanic eruption.
"There will be aftershocks but it's difficult to predict whether there will be a bigger quake," the unnamed head of Indonesia's Geological Disaster Mitigation and Volcanology Centre said.
"There are three big volcanoes in West Sumatra – Merapi, Talang and Tandikat. We fear that this quake might cause volcanic eruptions there."
A 9.15 magnitude quake, with its epicentre roughly 600km (373 miles) northwest of Padang, caused the 2004 tsunami which killed 232,000 people in Indonesia's Aceh province, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, and other countries across the Indian Ocean.
Dear all,
We invite all of you to attend Indonesian Cultural Day on 20 December 2009,We are happy to introduce Indonesian culture like:
Gamelan
Balinese dancing
Indonesian song
Indonesian dancing
We also serve you with Indonesian lunch with special West Sumatra Foods. All profit from this event goes to Earthquake victims in West Sumatra. Raffle tickets also available to purchase.
Places are available for 120 seats. Ticket fees are:
£ 10 per person
Students £7.50
Children above five are £ 5
Chidren under five are free
Please call me or text me for booking to 0795850459. Payment by cheque and send to:
Sri Dewi
79 Bournbrook Road
Selly Park
Birmingham B29 7BX
Telp: 07958510459
Venue at FELLOWSHIP HALL
South Parade, Sutton Coldfield
BIRMINGHAM, B72 1QU
on Sunday, 20 December2009, 13pm-16pm
Direction:
By BUS -
from the back of HOUSE FRASER SHOP - City Center of Birmingham
BUS no. 903 , 904 , 905 => Sutton Coldfield
stop at the TERMINAL
then 5 minute walk to TGI Friday opposite Church
Look at for the Sign of the Ballon - arrive
By CAR - because can not turn from Queen Street to South Parade
then please use this way
from Birmingham Road A 5127 turn to EMPIRE Cinema
Continue onto Holland Road
lower Queen street
onto upper Holland Road
turn left onto South Parade
can see the map LINK :www.multimap.com/s/JDhiF81S
Our menu are:
Starter:
Soto Padang (Padang special sup)
Perkedel (Potato fritter)
Main Course:
Lontong sayur Padang
Kalio Ayam (Chicken Curry)
Mie Goreng seafood
Pecel
Steam rice
Indonesian Crackers
Dessert
Range of Indonesian cake
Fruit salad
Drink
Tea
Coffe
Juice Drink
Also available Indonesia products stalls:
Indonesia Foods Grocery (EAST WEST)
Indonesian Art and Craft Stall
Lili Lengkana Recycle Bags
Range of Indonesian Products (Bazaar)
Warung Kita Stall (Jajanan to take away like gudeg,bakso,Mpek-Mpek)
Foods are precious please book early. Please book your ticket before 16 December 2009.
Kind Regards
Dewi
07958510459
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