Natural catastrophes

6.3, earthquake

Indonesia: a powerful earthquake flattened hundreds of buildings in western Indonesia, killing at least 70 people and overwhelming hospitals with injured. The magnitude-6.3 quake on Sumatra island was felt in neighbouring Malaysia and hundreds of miles away in Singapore, where some office buildings were evacuated. Local TV station SCTV reported that 26 people had been killed, citing correspondents in the area. Officials were not immediately available to confirm that figure but earlier said nine people had died. The dead included at least two young children and a teacher killed when a two-storey building crashed onto a playground in the Sumatran town of Solok. Hundreds of buildings collapsed, including a crowded state bank, and hospitals were struggling to cope with a flood of patients, many suffering from cuts and broken bones. At least one hospital was evacuated. The US Geological Survey said the quake struck 20 miles below Solok, on Sumatra’s western coast. It was followed by several strong aftershocks that sent residents pouring into the streets, shattered windows and toppled power lines.