Updated September 29th, 2019 at 17:42 IST
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.
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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.
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⚠️#Indonesia🇮🇩: Major damage is reported in the city of #Ambon, in the #Maluku province, as a result of the strong #earthquake of M6.5 that affected the island of #Seram, So far no victims are reported.
— American Earthquakes 🌋🌊🌎 (@earthquakevt)
Source pic: @BNPB_Indonesia.#EQVT,#gempa,#GempaBumi,#GempaAmbon,#terremoto. pic.twitter.com/kxbwqVRLiV
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.
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At Least 30 People Killed, 156 Injured as Powerful #Earthquake Hit #Indonesia - Reportshttps://t.co/E5Sc2mSYJC pic.twitter.com/L1T8jMX6oL
— Sputnik (@SputnikInt)
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.
Imagine a day when your city is hit by #earthquakes, a #tsunami, and a neighborhood is swallowed up by a rare phenomenon called soil #liquefaction?
— UN OCHA Asia Pacific (@OCHAAsiaPac)
That day was a reality for the residents of Palu in Central #Sulawesi : 28 September 2018.
Remembering #Sulawesi1YearOn #Indonesia pic.twitter.com/W0Ti65U6R1
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Published September 29th, 2019 at 15:19 IST