Published 15:19 IST, September 29th 2019
Death toll in Indonesia earthquake rises to 30, several injured
A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 struck the island nation of Indonesia's Seram coast on September 29 taking the lives of at least 30 people.
A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 struck the island nation of Indonesia's Seram coast on September 29. It took the lives of at least 30 people and injuring 156 others, according to the local authorities. An international media agency reported that rescue operations are being carried out. At least 25,000 people had to evacuate their homes in the wake of the powerful tremors.
The 6.5 magnitude earthquake hit early on Thursday which shattered hundreds of houses and dozens of public facilities and infrastructure which includes the main bridge in the city of Ambon.
Quake struck about 37 kilometers northeast of Ambon
The people whose houses were destroyed have set up tents and shelters in nearby hospitals and schoolyards. People who were residing in the low lying areas within close proximity to the ocean have shifted to higher ground following the quake. They fear a tsunami might hit despite warned out a possibility of a giant wave. The US Geological Survey said the quake struck about 37 kilometers (23 miles) northeast of Ambon in Maluku province at a depth of 29 kilometres.
Indonesia's geographical location
Indonesia is geographically located on the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire and is often hit by deadly earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions. Palu, a city on the island of Sulawesi west of Maluku was devastated by a 7.5-magnitude earthquake and a powerful tsunami that triggered last September, killing more than 4,000 people. In 2004, a powerful 9.1-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Sumatra. The quake triggered a tsunami that killed 220,000 throughout the region, including around 170,000 in Indonesia.
Updated 17:42 IST, September 29th 2019