domingo, 31 de outubro de 2010

Need, death toll mount in Indonesia


(CNN) -- The death toll has gone up to 449 after a massive earthquake struck off Indonesia's coast, triggering a tsunami and leaving hundreds injured, authorities said Sunday.
At least 270 people were injured, according to the Indonesia Disaster Management Agency.
Ninety-six others are still missing, authorities said.
At least 135 people were found alive over the past five days, officials said Saturday.
More than 22,000 people have been displaced or affected by the tsunami, which swept up villagers and swallowed homes without warning. It started after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck last week.
The government is considering relocating some residents in the earthquake-prone islands near Sumatra, the state-run Antara news agency said.
On the country's hard-hit Mentawai Islands, at least six of the 27 villages have "practically been flattened," state media said.
The quake struck Monday, triggering a tsunami warning. Its epicenter was 240 kilometers (150 miles) south of Padang, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The remoteness of many Indonesian islands left residents without warning and continued to limit communications and rescue and recovery efforts.
Medicine and supplies being used to treat hundreds of injured residents are being depleted, Antara reported.
The naval base in Padang had set up aid command posts in the Mentawai waters as well as medical command posts for victims, Antara said.
CNN