A second powerful earthquake rocked western Indonesia today as rescuers struggled to reach survivors of the previous day's quake, which killed more than 500 people and left thousands trapped under collapsed buildings.
The death toll from yesterday's 7.6-magnitude earthquake off Sumatra island was expected to rise as rescuers dig through the rubble, sometimes by hand, in heavily populated cities. The latest, 6.8-magnitude quake damaged hundreds of additional buildings, and communications remained cut in some areas.
"Let's not underestimate (the disaster). Let's be prepared for the worst. We will do everything we can to help the victims," President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said in Jakarta before flying to Padang.
A total of 529 people were confirmed dead and 440 were seriously injured, the Social Affairs Ministry's crisis centre said.
It said 376 deaths occurred in Padang, a coastal city of 900,000 and capital of West Sumatra province. The rest were in four surrounding districts.
Thousands were believed trapped, said Rustam Pakaya, head of the Health Ministry's crisis centre. A foot could be seen sticking from one pile of rubble.
{{/usCountry}}Thousands were believed trapped, said Rustam Pakaya, head of the Health Ministry's crisis centre. A foot could be seen sticking from one pile of rubble.
{{/usCountry}}The president ordered the military to deploy all its crisis centres in Jakarta, West Sumatra and North Sumatra provinces and said the military will provide earth-moving equipment to clear the rubble.