NORWAY OFFERS CONDOLENCES OVER W SUMATRA QUAKE

London, Oct 3 (ANTARA) - Norway's Environment and International Development Minister Erik Solheim has offered his country's condolences to the Indonesian people over the magnitude-7.6 earthquake that struck West Sumatra on September 30, 2009.

According to Charge d'affairs of the Indonesian Embassy in Oslo, Norway, Mansyur Pangeran, Minister Solheim had offered his condolences in a direct phone call to Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla.

In he phone call , Mansyur said, Solheim stated his country's intention to help Indonesia mitigate the impact of the natural disaster.

Up till now, he added, the Norwegian government had provided 20 million Kroner or US$ 3.5 million to help victims of natural disaster in Indonesia and the Philippine.

The aid will be distributed through several organizations, namely the United nations and International Red Cross in coordination with Indonesian and Philippine authorities.

The 7.6-strong temblor hit West Sumatra on Wednesday (September 30) at 17.16 local time.

According to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency the epicenter of the quake was located at 0.84 degrees southern latitude and 99.65 degrees northern longitude, 57 kilometers northwest of Pariaman district, West Sumatra, at a depth of 71 kilometers, as well as 78 km northwest of Padang, 99 km southwest of Bukit Tinggi, and 106 km northeast of Mentawai Islands.

Apart from devastating houses and buildings, the quake also caused fires in several parts of Padang city.

According to ANTARA`s observation, thousands of people are believed still trapped in collapsed buildings in several areas in West Sumatra`s capital city of Padang such as in Mara Palam district, Adira Finance building in Sawahan district, Nurul Iman mosque, Ambacang and Bumi Minang hotel, Sari pharmacy store and Gama course building.

Other parts of the province affected by the impact of the earthquake were the districts of South Pesisir , West Pasaman, Agam, Solok, and Solok city.

According to data from West Sumatra's Center for Natural Disaster Management, up till Saturday (Oct 3), as many as 466 people had died due to the powerful earthquake.

Some 279 local residents were seriously injured and 2,530 others lightly wounded.