Frantic rescue after quake kills 54 in Indonesia's Aceh
Source: Associated Press
By ZIAN MUSTAKIN and NINIEK KARMINI
Dec. 7, 2016 1:31 AM EST
MEUREUDU, Indonesia (AP) — A strong undersea earthquake rocked Indonesia's Aceh province early on Wednesday, killing at least 54 people and sparking a frantic rescue effort in the rubble of dozens of collapsed and damaged buildings.
Maj. Gen. Tatang Sulaiman, chief of the army in Aceh province, said 52 people have died in Pidie Jaya, the district closest to the epicenter. Another two people died in neighboring Bireuen district. The national disaster mitigation agency said 78 people have suffered serious injuries.
The rescue effort involving villagers, soldiers and police is concentrated on Meureudu, a severely affected town in Pidie Jaya district. Excavators were trying to remove debris from shop houses and other buildings where people were believed buried.
More than 40 buildings including several mosques were flattened in the district located 18 kilometers (11 miles) southwest of the epicenter, according to Aiyub Abbas, the district chief. Roads also cracked and power poles toppled over.
Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/56b2fcdfa09b4f1a9cecd5b4b2166276/earthquake-rocks-indonesias-aceh-province-least-27-dead
All we need now is a killer asteroid to make 2016 complete.
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