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Graphic shows location of earthquake off Indonesia.
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EARTHQUAKE

Powerful tsunami hits Indonesia’s Palu

By Jordi Bou

September 28, 2018 - Hundreds of people are feared dead with the number expected to rise after a magnitude 7.5 earthquake off the coast of the Indonesian island of Sulawesi triggered a tsunami that struck the cities of Palu and Donggala.

At least 844 people are confirmed to have died but authorities have said the final death toll could reach thousands as rescue teams reach the Donggala region which was directly hit and is home to 300,000 people.

Disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said the tsunami hit Palu, the capital of central Sulawesi province, as well as the smaller city of Donggala and several other coastal settlements.

Indonesian TV showed a smartphone video of a powerful wave hitting Palu, with people screaming and running in fear. The water smashed into buildings and a large mosque that collapsed under the force.

Houses were swept away and families were reported missing, Nugroho said, adding that communications and power to the area were disrupted.

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics agency said the tsunami waves were up to 6 meters (20 feet) high, and that the tsunami warning triggered by the biggest quake, in place for about half an hour, was lifted after the third wave struck Palu,not before as was reported earlier.

In December 2004, a massive magnitude 9.1 earthquake off Sumatra in western Indonesia triggered a tsunami that killed 230,000 people in a dozen countries.

Sources
PUBLISHED: 28/09/2018; STORY: Graphic News
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