A 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck the northwestern coast of Sulawesi island in Indonesia early Friday, killing at least 35 people, destroying houses, flattening a hospital and setting off landslides, disaster officials said.
Many houses in Mamuju, West Sulawesi, collapsed after the earthquake. (Photo: AP)
Rescuers were searching for people trapped in the rubble. More than 600 people were reported to have been injured in the quake, which struck inland between the coastal cities of Mamuju and Majene. No tsunami warning was issued.
Search and rescue work is being conducted urgently.
Darno Majid, head of the West Sulawesi Province disaster mitigation agency, reported Friday afternoon that at least 35 people had died in the quake. Local disaster officials said that most of the fatalities occurred in Mamuju, the larger of the two coastal cities.
The location of the earthquake in Indonesia on 15 January 2021.
The earthquake capped a week of disasters for Indonesia. On Saturday, a Sriwijaya Air jet crashed into the Java Sea with 62 people aboard. And on Sunday, at least 24 people were killed in landslides on Java island.
Residents inspect the scene of the collapse in Mamuju, West Sulawesi. (Photo: AP)
