Quake kills at least 3 in Indonesia

[Coventina]

Source: International Herald-Tribune

JAKARTA: At least three people were killed and about 30 seriously injured after a powerful earthquake struck near the island of Sulawesi in central Indonesia early Monday.

The epicenter of the 7.5 magnitude quake was located underwater, several kilometers off the coast, prompting the Indonesian authorities to issue a tsunami warning. It was lifted several hours later.

The tsunami alert was the first since the Indonesian authorities officially started its long-awaited early warning system last week.

The authorities said that thousands of houses were damaged and that at least one school had collapsed in rural towns in central Sulawesi. Several aftershocks followed, sending villagers fleeing into the streets, fearing a possible tsunami. At least one hospital was evacuated.



Read more: http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/11/17/news/quake.php