WEST SUMATRA QUAKE'S DEATH TOLL NOW 704

Padang, Oct 7 (ANTARA) - As of Wednesday morning, one week after a devastating a 7.6-magnitude earthquake that struck Padang city and surroundings, West Sumatra Province, the number of death toll reached 704.

Data of the Disaster Mitigation Coordination Unit (Satkorlak) of the West Sumatra governor's office on Wednesday indicated that the number of dead victims in Padang city had reached 328, followed by Padang Pariaman district 292, and Pariaman city 37.

While the number of fatalities in Agam district reached 32, Pesisir Selatan district 4, Solok town 3, and Pasaman Barat 3.

In addition, some 295 victims remained missing, 746 seriously wounded, and 1,344 slightly injured.

The quake which was centered 78 km northwest of Padang, the capital of West Sumatra province, at a depth of 71 km in the seabed also caused major damage to 101,653 houses, moderate damage to 48,966 houses, and minor damage to 49,026 houses.

In Padang city alone, 54 schools were seriously damaged, 377 moderately damaged, and 351 slightly damaged.

According to Padang Mayor Fauzi Bahar, 673 class rooms were heavily destroyed by last Wednesdays' powerful earthquake.

Besides, a total of 608 houses of worship were destroyed or practically flattened, 248 others seriously damaged and 146 were lightly affected, the West Sumatra Disaster Mitigation Task Force said.

The destroyed religious facilities included mosques, churches, Buddhist monasteries and Chinese temples in quake-hit urban and district areas.

Most of the houses of worship were located in Padang-Pariaman district where 418 were heavily damaged, 140 moderately damaged and 13 others lightly damaged.

Other places of worship were affected in Padang Panjang (5), Solok (4), Tanah Datar (2) and Pasaman (2).

A number of hotels, restaurants and their supporting facilities were also destroyed. Of the 47 star-rated hotels in West Sumatra, 24 were damaged, of which 11 were destroyed. Among those destroyed were the Ambacang, Rocky Plaza, Mariani, Nuasa and Hayam Wuruk hotels.