Rescuers combed the rubble of collapsed buildings in Mamuju, Indonesia, looking for survivors of a magnitude 6.2 earthquake, while strong aftershocks shook the region.
So far, 46 deaths and more than 820 injuries are attributed to the quake, which was centered just south of the town of about 110,000 people in West Sulawesi province early Friday.
The temple flattened a hospital, destroyed a shopping mall, damaged two hotels, regional government offices and the city’s airport. No major damage was attributed to Saturday’s 5.0-magnitude retort.
Several smaller aftershocks shook the area as well.
It is unclear how many people are considered trapped under level buildings, although authorities have focused on hotels. At least a dozen patients and staff remained missing after the hospital crash.
Rescue supplies are flowing to the island about 900 miles northwest of the capital Jakarta, and the Indonesian navy has sent a medical ship to the damaged area to help treat hundreds of injured.
About 15,000 people have fled to temporary shelters, local authorities said.
Authorities are worried about another larger aftershock and have warned residents to stay away from the sea because of the risk of a tsunami.
Located on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, Indonesia is regularly hit by earthquakes. In 2018, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake in Palu, about 250 miles north of Mamuju on the island of Sulawesi, and the subsequent tsunami that killed it, killed more than 4,300 people on the island.
With Post Wires