Indonesia: Earthquake, tsunami death toll rises to 800 with ‘fears’ of thousands
The series of earthquakes on Friday afternoon climaxed with a 7.5-magnitude earthquake and a tsunami which brought an 18-foot wave and devastated areas like Palu. The death toll, doubling daily, has now climbed over 800.
Sky News reported “There are fears thousands may have been killed by an earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia after the disaster’s death toll rose to 832.”
The higher death toll estimates are due to the worse conditions on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.
“The [death toll] is believed to be still increasing since many bodies were still under the wreckage while many have not able to be reached,” agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said.
He added that access to towns of Donggala, Sigi and Boutong is limited and there are no comprehensive reports from those areas.
The region has also been the site of a number of large earthquakes, including a magnitude 7.9, which occurred in January 1996.
“The 1996 earthquake – a shallow thrust faulting earthquake likely to have occurred on the regional subduction zone system at depth beneath the shallow crust – resulted in approximately 10 fatalities, over 60 injuries, and significant building damage in the local region,” the USGS wrote.
The U.S. State Department said it was not immediately aware of Americans affected by the quake or tsunami, but extended its condolences to the victims of the tragedy.
“The United States conveys its condolences and support to all of those in Indonesia affected by the earthquake and tsunami that struck Central Sulawesi on September 28,” department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement. “U.S. Mission Indonesia is closely monitoring the situation.”
For information about tsunami watches, warnings or advisories, visit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) tsunami website.