INDONESIA: SECOND BIG QUAKE IN TWO DAYS STRIKES EAST INDONESIA, LOCAL OFFICIAL KILLED.

Record ID: 342254

  • Title: INDONESIA: SECOND BIG QUAKE IN TWO DAYS STRIKES EAST INDONESIA, LOCAL OFFICIAL KILLED.
  • Date: 7th February 2004
  • Summary: (W4) NABIRE, PAPUA, INDONESIA (FEBRUARY 7, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. GV/CU: LARGE CRACK IN ROAD FOLLOWING EARTHQUAKE IN REMOTE PAPUA PROVINCE, PEOPLE RIDING BICYCLES AND MOPEDS PAST DAMAGED ROAD (2 SHOTS) 0.12 (W4) BIAK , PAPUA, INDONESIA (FEBRUARY 7, 2004) (REUTERS) 2. GV: SMALL PLANE LANDING AT BIAK AIRPORT, AND ISLAND NORTH OF NABIRE, BRINGING BACK BODY OF VICTIMS OF QUAKE 0.18 3. VARIOUS: RESCUERS OFFLOADING COFFIN OF OFFICIAL KILLED IN QUAKE; COFFIN LOADED INTO VEHICLE; VEHICLE DRIVING AWAY FROM AIRPORT (8 SHOTS) 0.58 4. GV/MV: VARIOUS OF RESCUERS ARRIVING AT AIRPORT, WALKING ON RUNWAY, BRINGING EMERGENCY SUPPLIES AND CAMPING EQUIPMENT (4 SHOTS) 1.15 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 22nd February 2004 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: NABIRE AND BIAK, PAPUA, INDONESIA
  • Country: Indonesia
  • Reuters ID: LVAB7W11OZH0RSIDJ4FEZST7MBZL
  • Story Text: Second big quake in two days strikes east
    Indonesia.



    An earthquake measuring up to 7.1 on the Richter
    scale struck Indonesia's remote Papua province on Saturday
    (February 7), a day after one of similar magnitude killed
    27 people and injured hundreds.

    The latest quake, which struck at 11.42 a.m. Papua time
    (0242 GMT), was reported 48 km (30 miles) west of the town
    of Nabire. There is no word yet on casualties from
    Saturday's quake.

    This is the second quake in two days. An earthquake
    measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale struck early on Friday
    (February 6), causing widespread damage. Most of the deaths
    in Friday's quake, which occurred in the early hours in the
    morning, were from houses and buildings collapsing in
    Nabire, a regional centre of 26,000 people. The epicentre
    of Friday's quake was about seven kilometres from the town.

    Officials fear it could be days before the extent of
    damage and death in the countryside and smaller villages is
    known. The area is remote and Friday's quake knocked out
    most of the area's electricity and communications.

    An official at Indonesia's quake centre said more
    aftershocks are likely to be felt for another week,
    although he expected those tremors would be a mild.

    Several doctors were still treating patients outside
    the badly damaged Nabire hospital and beds had been set up
    in tents outside. The grounds were littered with used
    syringes, medical gloves and blood-soaked cotton balls. A
    nurse said there were shortages of medicines and
    anaesthetics.

    The first quake destroyed schools, forced the airport
    to close to commercial flights and buckled and cracked
    roads. It knocked one church tower to the ground. Until
    Saturday, the local airport was still close to most flights
    as the quake caused some cracks on its runway. A few
    emergency and special flights managed to land. A mosque was
    also damaged, its silver dome smashed on the ground.

    Worshippers had been inside for early prayers on Friday
    prior to the quake.

    Remote but resource-rich Papua -- formerly known as
    Irian Jaya -- is 3,000 km (1,900 miles) east of Indonesia's
    capital, Jakarta. Since February 3, the region has been
    struck by a total of seven moderate to strong earthquakes,
    ranging from 4.5 on the Richter scale to 7.1.



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