News - National
3,000 may be trapped under Indonesia quake rubble
Posted: Oct 2, 2009 9:17 AM by Associated Press
Indonesia's Health Ministry says nearly 3,000 people may still be trapped under rubble after a powerful earthquake two days ago.
A spokesman for the ministry's Disaster Management Agency says 715 people have been confirmed dead and 2,400 hospitalized. A United Nations spokeswoman says the with thousands still trapped under collapsed buildings and houses, it's feared the final toll could reach 1,100.
Wednesday's 7.6 undersea earthquake caused devastation across large parts of West Sumatra. The most casualties were reported in the regional capital, Padang.
Disaster officials say more than 20,000 buildings and houses have been seriously damaged or destroyed.
Search and rescue teams were trying to find survivors, and a foreign aid effort flew in tents, water, medicine, food and hundreds of emergency workers.
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