Indonesia: At Least 97 Killed in Devastating Earthquake
- Updated Dec 07, 2016
A 6.5 magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia on Wednesday morning, killing at least 97 people and injuring 73 others.
Rescuers are now sorting through the aftermath, looking for survivors.
Time is of the essence in locating those who are buried under the rubble and destruction caused by the quake.
"Now our priority is the search and rescue operation. We have to move so fast to save them," said National Board for Disaster Management spokesman Sutopo Purvo Nugroho, according to CNN.com.
The earthquake hit the country’s Aceh province and destroyed hundreds of homes, businesses, and mosques, as well as the Pidie Jaya hospital.
Because the hospital was destroyed, emergency medical personnel rushed to the region to help.
Although no subsequent warnings of tsunamis have been issued, many residents still fled to the mountains, perhaps remembering the devastating earthquake and tsunami which struck the country in 2004.
That disaster killed over 80,000 people.
Earthquakes are fairly common occurrences in Indonesia which sits on the so-called Ring of Fire, a series of fault lines that circle the Pacific Basin.
Photo courtesy: Thinkstockphotos.com
Publication date: December 7, 2016
