1000+ feared under debris in Indonesia quake, tsunami

Death toll from natural disaster in Sulawesi Island has risen to 1,558, according to latest official data

By Adem Salvarcioglu and Zehra Ulucak

ANKARA (AA) - More than 1000 people are feared to be under debris in disaster-hit Indonesia after the 7.4-magnitude earthquake and tsunami hit Sulawesi Island, the disaster management authority announced Friday.

Indonesian National Disaster Management (BNPB) spokesperson Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said over 1000 earthquake and tsunami victims are estimated to be trapped under the rubble, citing the reports by the villages in the region.

The search and rescue efforts are still underway, Nugroho said.

Around 70,000 houses were damaged, while the financial loss climbed to $658 million in the region, he added.

According to the latest data by disaster authority, the death toll from the quake and tsunami has risen to 1,558, with 113 missing.

The disaster in Central Sulawesi could be Indonesia’s second-largest tragedy after the 2004 Aceh tsunami that killed more than 170,000 people.

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