SOME 247 AFTERSHOCKS JOLT W SUMATRA

Jakarta, Oct 2 (ANTARA) - Some 247 aftershocks of different magnitudes shook West Sumatra after the province was rocked by a 7.6-magnitude earthquake on Wednesday (Sept 30), the Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) said.

A staff from the Early Information on Earthquake and Tsunami unit of Padang city's BMKG, Jaya Murjaya, stated the 247 aftershocks struck on Thursday afternoon right after the powerful 7,6 earthquake struck the province and its surrounding areas.

Fortunately, Jaya said, the strength of the aftershocks was declining to four on the Richter scale, and thus shocks were hardly felt.

Jaya predicted weaker aftershocks may still strike in the next few days.

West Sumatra was hit by a powerful earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale on Wednesday (Sept 30) at 17.16 local time. The temblor had its epicenter in southwest Pariaman district, West Sumatra.

An aftershock measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale jolted the province fifteen minutes after the main temblor.

The main earthquake tore down houses and buildings in Padang city and also triggered fires in several areas there.

The condition got worse afterwards because power supply was cut off and heavy rains fell on Padang city.

Around a hundred residents in the Kampung Cina area, Padang, were reportedly trapped in the rubble of high-rise buildings after the earthquake.

Until Friday (Oct 2), many residents chose to stay indoors in the open field or in tents. Meanwhile, several men and youngsters are guarding their neighborhood to anticipate lootings and theft.
The number of deaths in the Wednesday quake has reached 478 until Thursday evening.

According to the Command Post of the Coordination Unit for Disaster Control in West Sumatra fatalaties in Padang city, Pariaman, Solok and Bukitinggi, and Padang Pariaman district,
around 80 percent of buildings, including schools were damaged.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who had just returned from the US to attend a G-20 summit arrived in Padang on Thursday evening to have a close look at the quake-hit region and the consequences.