2m-high tsunami hits Indonesia after strong earthquakes

By | September 28, 2018

A strong earthquake with a 7.5 magnitude has struck Indonesia just hours after after a milder quake brought down houses in the same area.

The first quake, measuring 6.1, triggered a 2m-high (over 6ft) tsunami which hit Palu, which is the capital of central Sulawesi province, and a smaller city, Donggala.

One person died and 10 were injured.

People have been injured by the earthquake in Donggala
Image: People have been injured by the earthquake in Donggala
Indonesia
Image: Dozens of houses have collapsed

Disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said houses were swept away and families were reported missing.

Mobile phone footage emerged of a powerful wave hitting Palu with people screaming and running in fear.

“All the things in my house were swaying and the quake left a small crack on my wall,” Donggala resident Mohammad Fikri said by telephone.

The second quake happened off the island of Sulawesi at 5.02pm local time (11.02am BST), according to Indonesia’s agency for meteorology, climatology and geophysics.

Authorities briefly issued a tsunami warning but later lifted it. It was followed by numerous strong aftershocks including one of magnitude 6.7.

“We advise people to remain in safe area, stay away from damaged buildings,” the spokesman advised.

Dozens of houses have collapsed
Image: One person died and 10 were injured in the first earthquake

He added that the national agency in Jakarta was having difficulties reaching some authorities in the area.

The US Geological Survey measured the second earthquake at magnitude 7.5. It said the quake was centred at a depth of six miles, about 35 miles north east of the town of Donggala.

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Indonesia said the quake was 7.7.

Indonesia is prone to earthquakes and 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.

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