A powerful earthquake that struck Indonesia's Sulawesi island last week has killed at least 81 people and displaced more than 19,000, the country's disaster mitigation agency said as search and rescue efforts continued on Monday.
The 6.2-magnitude quake, part of a string of disasters to hit the South-east Asian archipelago in recent weeks, struck West Sulawesi in the early hours of Friday morning, sending thousands fleeing from their beds.
Disaster mitigation spokesman Raditya Jati said on Monday that 81 people were confirmed to have died, while more than 250 had been seriously injured.
There was also significant damage to hundreds of homes, a mall, a hospital and several hotels.
With thousands displaced, authorities were also working to curb the spread of the coronavirus among evacuees, including by conducting rapid antigen tests, the official said.
Aside from the earthquake, the world's fourth-most populous country also suffered a plane crash on January 9 that killed 62 people as well as a deadly landslide in Java and the eruption of the Merapi and Semeru volcanoes.
And President Joko Widodo was due to fly to the province of South Kalimantan on Borneo island on Monday to view flood damage after at least 15 people died following weeks of torrential rains.
Straddling the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, Indonesia is regularly hit by earthquakes. In 2018, a 7.5-magnitude quake and subsequent tsunami struck the city of Palu, in Sulawesi, killing thousands.
The country’s meteorology agency has warned of aftershocks in Sulawesi, along with the risk of extreme weather and other flood dangers in the coming weeks.
-
Patients receive medical treatment outside a hospital following the 6.2 magnitude earthquake in Mamuju, West Sulawesi, Indonesia, 15 January 2021. At least 42 people were killed and dozens other injured after the 6.2 earthquake struck Sulawesi island. EPA -
Rescuers search for survivors at a collapsed building in Mamuju city on January 16, 2021, a day after a 6.2-magnitude earthquake rocked Indonesia's Sulawesi island. AFP -
Members of Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) and volunteers search for survivors and victims under the rubble of a collapsed building in the aftermath of an earthquake in Mamuju, West Sulawesi, Indonesia, 16 January 2021. At least 42 people died and hundreds were injured after a 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck Sulawesi island on 15 January. EPA -
Rescuers search for survivors at a collapsed building in Mamuju city on January 16, 2021, a day after a 6.2-magnitude earthquake rocked Indonesia's Sulawesi island. AFP -
Rescuers search for survivors at a collapsed building in Mamuju city on January 16, 2021, a day after a 6.2-magnitude earthquake rocked Indonesia's Sulawesi island. AFP -
People retrieve goods from a collapsed convenience store as others are seen over building rubble in Mamuju city on January 16, 2021, a day after a 6.2-magnitude earthquake rocked Indonesia's Sulawesi island. AFP -
Rescuers evacuate a survivor pulled out from the ruin of a collapsed government's building following a 6.2 magnitude earthquake in Mamuju, West Sulawesi, Indonesia, 15 January 2021. At least 42 people were killed and dozens other injured after a 6.2 earthquake struck Sulawesi island. EPA -
A man stands in front of a collapsed building in the aftermath of an earthquake in Mamuju, West Sulawesi, Indonesia, 16 January 2021. At least 42 people died and hundreds were injured after a 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck Sulawesi island on 15 January. EPA -
People ride their motorbikes past a collapsed electric pole in the aftermath of an earthquake in Mamuju, West Sulawesi, Indonesia, 16 January 2021. At least 42 people died and hundreds were injured after a 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck Sulawesi island on 15 January. EPA -
Locals who fled to higher ground are seen at a temporary shelter following an earthquake in Mamuju, West Sulawesi province, Indonesia, January 16, 2021 in this photo taken by Antara Foto. Antara Foto/Akbar Tado/ via Reuters -
An aerial picture shows damaged governor of West Sulawesi province's office following an earthquake in Mamuju, West Sulawesi, Indonesia. Reuters -
An aerial picture shows a hospital building collapsed following an earthquake in Mamuju, West Sulawesi, Indonesia, January 16, 2021 in this photo taken by Antara Foto. Reuters -
An aerial picture shows damaged governor of West Sulawesi province's office following an earthquake in Mamuju, West Sulawesi, Indonesia. Reuters -
People react as the body of a relative is recovered from the rubble of a building at an area affected by an earthquake in Mamuju, West Sulawesi, Indonesia. A strong, shallow earthquake shook Indonesia's Sulawesi island just after midnight Friday, toppling homes and buildings, triggering landslides. AP Photo
