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A pair of powerful earthquakes rocked the southern region of Sumatra today, reportedly killing as many as 70 people. This latest disaster comes a month after the massive floods that struck Jakarta, and is just the latest in a long line of disasters that have struck that country repeatedly over the past few years; events that have included tsunami's, volcanoes, and outbreaks of diseases.
Since the floods of early February, we've seen very little hard information come out of Indonesia regarding bird flu. No doubt, that disaster reduced Indonesia's capacity to deal with the H5N1 virus, and put the culling operations in Jakarta on the back burner. Additionally, hospitals have been over run with thousands of cases of flood related illnesses and injuries, clouding our ability to track cases.
Today's earthquakes will certainly further stretch already sorely taxed emergency operations in Indonesia.
Two quakes kill at least 70 in Sumatra
Tue Mar 6, 2007 9:17 AM GMT
By John Nedy
PADANG, Indonesia (Reuters) - Two strong earthquakes hit Indonesia's Sumatra island on Tuesday, killing at least 70 people and sending emergency operations into full swing to deal with dozens of injured.
The tremors were felt as far away as Malaysia and Singapore, where several buildings were evacuated.
The first quake of magnitude 6.3 was felt in the West Sumatra provincial capital of Padang at around 11 a.m., sparking panic among seaside residents who feared it might trigger a tsunami.
A second 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck the same area two hours later, causing more panic.
However, there was no immediate tsunami warning after the quakes, which were on land.
Indonesia's cabinet secretary Sudi Silalahi said 70 people had been killed.
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