Powerful earthquake kills 5 in Indonesia by Delia Cruceru

Indonesia was hit yesterday by a powerful earthquake with the magnitude of 8.4 on Richter scale. At least five people died, two from Bengkulu and three from Padang. But another earthquake stroked the west cost of Sumatra at 6.50am local time on Thursday morning, 13 hours after the first quake. The US Geological Survey said that the second quake was "at 7.7 on the Richter scale, centered 185km south-east of the city of Padang. It was weaker than Wednesday evening's 8.4-magnitude quake, which was further south, nearer the city of Bengkulu." The quake from Wednesday turned houses, malls or mosques in to debris and it could be felt in almost four countries. The authorities warned about the aftershocks, the stronger was registered at magnitude of 6.6 and of course the tsunami alert was on. After the initial quake, Padang was hit by a tsunami about 3 feet high after 20 minutes. In the city of Bengkulu almost 100 people were hospitalized, one building was demolished and communications were out. In the quake from today at least 10 people were killed according to the Indonesian authorities Tsunami alerts were issued, waves of 1.5 m high inundated 300 houses on Pagai Island in the Mentawai chain but no significant damage was recorded.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070912/ap_on_re_as/indonesia_earthquake;_ylt=AkP4yCBmur0mOyik.tdiEVGs0NUE

by Delia Cruceru for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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