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3,000 people feared trapped in rubble of Indonesian earthquake
Peter Dominiczak2 Oct 2009
Up to 3,000 people may still be trapped under rubble after the powerful earthquake that rocked Indonesia two days ago, the country's health ministry said today.
A second quake has since struck the region, bringing the death toll in Indonesia to an estimated 1,100.
Priyadi Kardono, a spokesman for the ministry's Disaster Management Agency, said that 715 people had been confirmed dead and 2,400 were taken to hospital after the first earthquake which struck on Wednesday.
The 7.6-magnitude undersea tremor caused devastation across large parts of West Sumatra. The most casualties were in the regional capital, Padang.
The second, 6.8-magnitude quake struck yesterday 180 miles from the epicentre of Wednesday's tremor.
Mr Kardono said more than 20,000 buildings and houses have been seriously damaged or destroyed, and nearly 3,000 people may still be trapped in Padang and six other districts. Search and rescue teams were trying to find survivors, and a foreign aid effort flew in tents, water, medicine, food and hundreds of emergency workers.
British rescue experts were today trying to travel to the stricken island, and charities launched major appeals to help the survivors.
Indonesian aid workers predicted today the death toll could run into many thousands. Buildings that collapsed in Padang on Wednesday included two hospitals, a shopping mall and mosques.
Yesterday's second tremor, 150 miles south of Padang, damaged 1,000 buildings in Jambi.
Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono warned people to be "prepared for the worst". Many thousands are thought to be homeless, and UN humanitarian chief John Holmes said latest figures "suggest the death toll has risen to 1,100".
British search and rescue experts travelling to Indonesia include 60 firefighters from around England and Wales and staff from UK aid agencies. They were on a flight chartered by the International Development department.
The plane was grounded at Gatwick with a mechanical fault, but a government source said: "It remains the firm intention of everybody to get them in the air, hopefully by the end of today."
International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander said: "The UK's fire and rescue experts will help provide a lifeline. In addition, we stand ready to assist the government and are in regular contact with authorities."
Oxfam has launched a £10million appeal to help victims.
