Can seismic activities change the course of rivers? Well, a study reveals that a major earthquake that occurred 2,500 years ago caused one of the biggest rivers on the planet to change its course abruptly. That river was none other than the Ganges.

This breakthrough discovery about changing courses of rivers is known as avulsions in scientific terminology. Rivers have always been changing their courses, but it was never confirmed that earthquakes could be the driving force behind them. Certainly, no study has ever linked seismic activity with the Ganges’ course before, which makes this study one-of-a-kind.

Today the Ganges flows for over 2,575 kilometres (1,600 miles) from the Himalayas down to the Bay of Bengal. It forms the world’s second-largest river system as it teams up with other rivers.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/scorching-heatwave-set-to-sear-northeastern-us-break-records-and-spark-health-concerns-732975">Scorching heatwave set to sear northeastern US, break records and spark health concerns</a>

It is hard to gather that such a massive water body system can change its course due to an earthquake. But course changes take decades and a lifetime. It is because sediments washed from upstream can change the lay of the land, raising the riverbed until the water finds a path of less resistance by flowing in a slightly different direction.

<h2>Earthquake changed&nbsp;the course of the Ganges</h2>

Avulsions need not require time of decades or even years to make a change. As per the new study, earthquakes can lead to changes in rivers that happen almost instantaneously.&nbsp;

Looking at satellite imagery, the team discovered what appeared to be a former main channel for the Ganges running parallel to the river as it runs today for around 100 kilometres (62 miles).

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They were exploring the area in 2018 when they spotted something interesting along the retired river’s flank- sand volcanoes. Also known as seismites, they’re characterised by strips of sand emerging vertically through horizontal layers of mud and are a known side effect of earthquakes.

They also found seismites across a large expanse of land and all of them seemed to have similar patterns, indicating they were created at the same time.&nbsp;

The chemical analysis of the seismites revealed they date back 2,500 years, when, as per researchers, a magnitude 7 or 8 earthquake reshaped the landscape.

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The source of the Ganges-shifting earthquake could have originated from a subduction zone to the south and east where part of the oceanic crust is working its way underneath Bangladesh, Myanmar, and northeastern India.&nbsp;

Also, the large splay faults at the base of the Himalayas may have been the driving force, which is a concerning possibility as research suggests these zones could be due to another earthquake similar in magnitude to that which changed the course of the Ganges.

(With inputs from agencies)

Can seismic activities change the course of rivers? Well, a study reveals that a major earthquake that occurred 2,500 years ago caused one of the biggest rivers on the planet to change its course abruptly.

Can seismic activities change the course of rivers? Well, a study reveals that a major earthquake that occurred 2,500 years ago caused one of the biggest rivers on the planet to change its course abruptly. That river was none other than the Ganges. This breakthrough discovery about changing courses of rivers is known as avulsions in scientific terminology. Rivers have always been changing their courses, but it was never confirmed that earthquakes could be the driving force behind them. Certainly, no study has ever linked seismic activity with the Ganges’ course before, which makes this study one-of-a-kind. Today the Ganges flows for over 2,575 kilometres (1,600 miles) from the Himalayas down to the Bay of Bengal. It forms the world’s second-largest river system as it teams up with other rivers. Also Read | Scorching heatwave set to sear northeastern US, break records and spark health concerns It is hard to gather that such a massive water body system can change its course due to an earthquake. But course changes take decades and a lifetime. It is because sediments washed from upstream can change the lay of the land, raising the riverbed until the water finds a path of less resistance by flowing in a slightly different direction. Earthquake changed the course of the Ganges Avulsions need not require time of decades or even years to make a change. As per the new study, earthquakes can lead to changes in rivers that happen almost instantaneously. Looking at satellite imagery, the team discovered what appeared to be a former main channel for the Ganges running parallel to the river as it runs today for around 100 kilometres (62 miles). Also Read | Meet 'Jebel Irhoud': Scientists reveal face of first homo sapien from 300,000 years ago They were exploring the area in 2018 when they spotted something interesting along the retired river’s flank- sand volcanoes. Also known as seismites, they’re characterised by strips of sand emerging vertically through horizontal layers of mud and are a known side effect of earthquakes. They also found seismites across a large expanse of land and all of them seemed to have similar patterns, indicating they were created at the same time. The chemical analysis of the seismites revealed they date back 2,500 years, when, as per researchers, a magnitude 7 or 8 earthquake reshaped the landscape. Also Read | China's 11th century 'guest star' revealed as spectacular Crab Nebula The source of the Ganges-shifting earthquake could have originated from a subduction zone to the south and east where part of the oceanic crust is working its way underneath Bangladesh, Myanmar, and northeastern India. Also, the large splay faults at the base of the Himalayas may have been the driving force, which is a concerning possibility as research suggests these zones could be due to another earthquake similar in magnitude to that which changed the course of the Ganges. (With inputs from agencies)

River Ganges changed its course after massive earthquake hit its shores 2500 years ago: Study

&nbsp;People evacuated buildings in the Philippine capital Manila on Tuesday after an earthquake of magnitude 5.9 struck off Luzon, according to the state seismology agency and images shared by media on social media.

The Philippines' seismology agency said on X social media platform that it did not expect damage, but warned of aftershocks. It recorded the earthquake at magnitude 5.9, with a depth of 79 kilometres (49.09 miles).

Images shared by local media on X showed government workers leaving senate, presidential palace, justice ministry buildings. Students also vacated universities.

The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre had earlier recorded the quake at magnitude 6.2 before downgrading to 6.0.

People evacuated buildings in the Philippine capital Manila on Tuesday after an earthquake of magnitude 5.9 struck off Luzon, according to the state seismology agency and images shared by media on social media.

People evacuated buildings in the Philippine capital Manila on Tuesday after an earthquake of magnitude 5.9 struck off Luzon, according to the state seismology agency and images shared by media on social media. The Philippines' seismology agency said on X social media platform that it did not expect damage, but warned of aftershocks. It recorded the earthquake at magnitude 5.9, with a depth of 79 kilometres (49.09 miles). Images shared by local media on X showed government workers leaving senate, presidential palace, justice ministry buildings. Students also vacated universities. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre had earlier recorded the quake at magnitude 6.2 before downgrading to 6.0.

Buildings evacuated as earthquake felt in Philippine capital

Japan has expanded its natural disaster preparations to include vending machines that would provide free food and drink in the event of a major earthquake or typhoon.

Two machines have been installed&nbsp;in the western coastal city of Ako, which is located in an area that seismologists predict is vulnerable to a large earthquake that is projected to impact the country's central and south-west Pacific coasts in the decades to come.&nbsp;

The machines, which carry around 300 bottles and cans of soft drinks and 150 emergency food items, including nutritional supplements, have been placed near buildings designated as evacuation shelters.

As per the Japanese newspaper&nbsp;Mainichi Shimbun, they are intended to "unlock" and make their contents available free of charge in the case of a severe rain warning or an evacuation order following a quake of an upper five or higher on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of seven.

Their contents must be paid for the remainder of the period, according to the newspaper.

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<h2>First of their kind&nbsp;in Japan</h2>

Earth Corp, which has a facility in the city, claims the devices are the first of their kind in Japan, one of the world's most seismically active countries, where increasingly violent typhoons have caused significant floods and landslides in recent years.

The rest of the time, its contents must be paid for, according to the newspaper.

“We would like to install [the machines] throughout the country,” a company representative told the Mainichi, as reported by the Guardian.

A city official said: “We expect that the stockpile will lead to the safety and security of our residents.”

Earlier this year, a vending machine equipped with a radio that automatically releases emergency notifications, was installed in a Tokyo park.

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;North Korea says it launched satellite | Japan put its ballistic missiles on alert&nbsp;

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Media reports said, earthquakes registering five&nbsp;or higher on the Japanese intensity scale would trigger the radio, which will relay evacuation and other crucial information from a local community radio station.

Experts have increased the likelihood of a "megaquake" occurring at the Nankai trough, off Japan's Pacific coast, from 50 per cent&nbsp;to 60 per cent&nbsp;over the next 20 years, and to about 90 per cent&nbsp;within the next 40 years.

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Japan has expanded its natural disaster preparations to include vending machines that would provide free food and drink in the event of a major earthquake or typhoon.

Japan has expanded its natural disaster preparations to include vending machines that would provide free food and drink in the event of a major earthquake or typhoon. Two machines have been installed in the western coastal city of Ako, which is located in an area that seismologists predict is vulnerable to a large earthquake that is projected to impact the country's central and south-west Pacific coasts in the decades to come. The machines, which carry around 300 bottles and cans of soft drinks and 150 emergency food items, including nutritional supplements, have been placed near buildings designated as evacuation shelters. As per the Japanese newspaper Mainichi Shimbun, they are intended to "unlock" and make their contents available free of charge in the case of a severe rain warning or an evacuation order following a quake of an upper five or higher on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of seven. Their contents must be paid for the remainder of the period, according to the newspaper. Also read | US seeking explosives in Japan for Ukraine artillery shells: Report First of their kind in Japan Earth Corp, which has a facility in the city, claims the devices are the first of their kind in Japan, one of the world's most seismically active countries, where increasingly violent typhoons have caused significant floods and landslides in recent years. The rest of the time, its contents must be paid for, according to the newspaper. “We would like to install [the machines] throughout the country,” a company representative told the Mainichi, as reported by the Guardian. A city official said: “We expect that the stockpile will lead to the safety and security of our residents.” Earlier this year, a vending machine equipped with a radio that automatically releases emergency notifications, was installed in a Tokyo park. ALSO WATCH | North Korea says it launched satellite | Japan put its ballistic missiles on alert Media reports said, earthquakes registering five or higher on the Japanese intensity scale would trigger the radio, which will relay evacuation and other crucial information from a local community radio station. Experts have increased the likelihood of a "megaquake" occurring at the Nankai trough, off Japan's Pacific coast, from 50 per cent to 60 per cent over the next 20 years, and to about 90 per cent within the next 40 years. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Japan aces disaster preparedness, vending machines to offer free food if earthquake hits

The death toll from the deadly Syria- Turkiye earthquake has crossed the 28,000 mark. The UN relief Chief Martin Griffiths say that the death toll could double or more and cross 50,000. More than 100 hours later rescue operations are underway, the rescuers are working round the clock hoping to pull more survivors from the debris.

Rescue efforts underway in Turkey

Earthquakes can vary in their range and intensity from not being able to feel anything to a mild rumble to an apocalyptic level of destruction that causes a wave of horrific catastrophes over a wide geographical area. But how do earthquakes happen? How can they be predicted or stopped? Where do earthquakes happen the most and is climate change involved?

Can climate change cause quakes?

A strong 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of northern California, killing at least two people on&nbsp;Tuesday.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The National Tsunami Warning Center said that no tsunami was expected, AFP reported.

According to the US Geological Survey, the earthquake occurred in Humboldt county, 25 miles southwest of the port city of Eureka. It added that a dozen&nbsp; minor aftershocks were felt in the nearby areas.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/death-toll-in-indonesia-earthquake-increased-to-602-after-new-count-543932">Also read |&nbsp;Death toll in Indonesia earthquake increased to 602 after new count</a>

During USGS's preliminary assessment, the department stated a low risk of deaths but some damage is predicted.

Over 60,000 customers in Humboldt County reported no power.&nbsp;

The county's Office of Emergency Services in a tweet said that power is out across the US and urged people to not call 911 unless an immediate emergency.

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NO TSUNAMI IS EXPECTED. Magnitude 6.4 earthquake 14 miles from Fortuna. Power is out across the county. DO NOT CALL 911 UNLESS YOU ARE EXPERIENCING AN IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY.
— Humboldt Co OES (@HumCoOES) <a href="https://twitter.com/HumCoOES/status/1605159221665837058?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/60-magnitude-earthquake-rattles-turkey-536608">Also read |&nbsp;6.1 magnitude earthquake rattles Turkey, injuring 35</a>

Seismologists had predicted that California might have a major earthquake within the next 30 years.&nbsp;

The western US state is frequently jolted by earthquakes.&nbsp;

A 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck Northridge, northwest of Los Angeles, in 1994 which claimed lives of 60&nbsp;and an estimated $10 billion in damage, while a 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck San Fransico in 1989 and claimed lives 67 people.&nbsp;

(with inputs from agencies)

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A strong 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of northern California, killing at least two people on Tuesday. The National Tsunami Warning Center said that no tsunami was expected, AFP reported.

A strong 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of northern California, killing at least two people on Tuesday. The National Tsunami Warning Center said that no tsunami was expected, AFP reported. According to the US Geological Survey, the earthquake occurred in Humboldt county, 25 miles southwest of the port city of Eureka. It added that a dozen minor aftershocks were felt in the nearby areas. Also read | Death toll in Indonesia earthquake increased to 602 after new count During USGS's preliminary assessment, the department stated a low risk of deaths but some damage is predicted. Over 60,000 customers in Humboldt County reported no power. The county's Office of Emergency Services in a tweet said that power is out across the US and urged people to not call 911 unless an immediate emergency. NO TSUNAMI IS EXPECTED. Magnitude 6.4 earthquake 14 miles from Fortuna. Power is out across the county. DO NOT CALL 911 UNLESS YOU ARE EXPERIENCING AN IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY. — Humboldt Co OES (@HumCoOES) December 20, 2022 × Also read | 6.1 magnitude earthquake rattles Turkey, injuring 35 Seismologists had predicted that California might have a major earthquake within the next 30 years. The western US state is frequently jolted by earthquakes. A 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck Northridge, northwest of Los Angeles, in 1994 which claimed lives of 60 and an estimated $10 billion in damage, while a 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck San Fransico in 1989 and claimed lives 67 people. (with inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

US: 6.4 magnitude earthquake hits northern California, two dead, thousands without power

The number of fatalities from the earthquake that struck Afghanistan on Wednesday has increased to 1,150 and more than 3,000 dwellings have been completely demolished, as reported by Associated Press. The death toll increased on Friday (June 24) from earlier estimates of 1,000 deaths caused by a 6.1 magnitude earthquake, the Bhaktar News Agency said. However, as per the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the death toll is different. It estimated 770 deaths while the UNICEF’s representative in Afghanistan predicted the toll to be 1036 and still counting. According to Hindustan Times, significant variations in death counts and destruction statistics are expected.

Mohammad Nassim Haqqani, a spokesperson of the ministry for disaster, while in conversation with Reuters, said that 2,000 individuals were injured and nearly 10,000 homes destroyed. This is one of the deadliest earthquakes the country has seen&nbsp;in 20 years. As per reports, the eastern district of Paktika is the worst-hit area.&nbsp;This doesn’t end here; the communication has also been impacted due to the destruction of phone towers and power lines.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-resisting-humanitarian-funding-un-491166">Taliban resisting humanitarian funding: UN</a>

According to Save the Children, the disaster has nearly impacted more than 118,000 children. It further said, “Many are now most likely without clean drinking water, food and a safe place to sleep."

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: 5.9 Magnitude earthquake kills 1,000 in Afghanistan

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Several countries like Germany, Norway and others will help the south Asian country through United Nations and not directly to the Taliban. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also provided the country with essentials.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mass-graves-being-prepared-for-earthquake-victims-in-afghanistan-491083">Mass graves being prepared for earthquake victims in Afghanistan</a>

The Taliban takeover has isolated the country from the world, and this disaster has put the nation in tremendous difficulty. In addition to this, the prime reason for delayed global help is again the Taliban as the majority of international organisations left Afghanistan after the Taliban seized the country.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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(with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

The number of fatalities from the earthquake that struck Afghanistan on Wednesday has increased to 1,150 and more than 3,000 dwellings have been completely demolished, as reported by Associated Press.

The number of fatalities from the earthquake that struck Afghanistan on Wednesday has increased to 1,150 and more than 3,000 dwellings have been completely demolished, as reported by Associated Press. The death toll increased on Friday (June 24) from earlier estimates of 1,000 deaths caused by a 6.1 magnitude earthquake, the Bhaktar News Agency said. However, as per the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the death toll is different. It estimated 770 deaths while the UNICEF’s representative in Afghanistan predicted the toll to be 1036 and still counting. According to Hindustan Times, significant variations in death counts and destruction statistics are expected. Mohammad Nassim Haqqani, a spokesperson of the ministry for disaster, while in conversation with Reuters, said that 2,000 individuals were injured and nearly 10,000 homes destroyed. This is one of the deadliest earthquakes the country has seen in 20 years. As per reports, the eastern district of Paktika is the worst-hit area. This doesn’t end here; the communication has also been impacted due to the destruction of phone towers and power lines. Also read | Taliban resisting humanitarian funding: UN According to Save the Children, the disaster has nearly impacted more than 118,000 children. It further said, “Many are now most likely without clean drinking water, food and a safe place to sleep." Watch | Gravitas: 5.9 Magnitude earthquake kills 1,000 in Afghanistan Several countries like Germany, Norway and others will help the south Asian country through United Nations and not directly to the Taliban. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also provided the country with essentials. Also read | Mass graves being prepared for earthquake victims in Afghanistan The Taliban takeover has isolated the country from the world, and this disaster has put the nation in tremendous difficulty. In addition to this, the prime reason for delayed global help is again the Taliban as the majority of international organisations left Afghanistan after the Taliban seized the country. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. (with inputs from agencies)

Death toll for Afghanistan earthquake reaches 1,150 with nearly 3,000 homes destroyed

A&nbsp;6.2- magnitude&nbsp;earthquake&nbsp;struck&nbsp;Indonesia's&nbsp;Sumatra&nbsp;island&nbsp;on Friday, the United States Geological Survey said, with residents sent fleeing from their homes.

According to news agency Reuters, at least seven people were killed and dozens injured.

The quake hit the&nbsp;island's north at a depth of 12 kilometres (7.5 miles), about 70 kilometres from the town of Bukittinggi in West&nbsp;Sumatra&nbsp;province, according to USGS.

No tsunami warning was issued and there were no immediate reports of serious damage, but the quake was felt in the neighbouring provinces of Riau and North&nbsp;Sumatra&nbsp;and as far away as Malaysia and Singapore.

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Residents said the 6.2 quake -- which struck just after 8:30 am -- came minutes after a less violent quake recorded by USGS as 5.0 magnitude.

Alim Bazar, head of the disaster mitigation agency of Pasaman city near the quake's epicentre, told AFP some buildings suffered cracks.

"The mayor called and ordered all second and third floors in every building should be vacated," he said.

Bazar said there were reports of some injuries, but did not have any details.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/magnitude-66-earthquake-strikes-off-indonesias-java-island-444695">Magnitude 6.6 earthquake strikes off Indonesia's Java island</a>

Irpanda, a resident of Pasaman city who like many Indonesians goes by one name, told Metro TV that he felt both the first and second tremors.

"At first, the quake only lasted for a few seconds. People fled their homes and buildings nearby were swaying," he said.

"But then another quake happened and it was so strong. More people fled their houses," he said, adding patients at a local hospital were moved outside.

Tremors were also felt in Singapore, witnesses and police said.

"Earth tremors were... felt in certain parts of Singapore at about 9:45 am," the police said in a statement.

The police and emergency services "have received several calls from the public reporting these tremors", the statement added.

Malaysia's meteorological department said in a tweet that "vibrations" were felt on the peninsula's western states.

Watch |&nbsp;Indonesia names new capital Nusantara, replacing Jakarta

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"Vibrations felt in the western Peninsular area especially in Selangor, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Malacca and Johor," the department said in the tweet.

Indonesia&nbsp;sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", causing it to experience frequent earthquakes.

In 2004, a 9.1-magnitude quake&nbsp;struck the coast of&nbsp;Sumatra&nbsp;and triggered a tsunami that killed 220,000 people throughout the region, including about 170,000 in&nbsp;Indonesia.

(With inputs from agencies)

A 6.2- magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia's Sumatra island on Friday, the United States Geological Survey said, with residents sent fleeing from their homes. According to news agency Reuters, at least seven people were killed and dozens injured.

A 6.2- magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia's Sumatra island on Friday, the United States Geological Survey said, with residents sent fleeing from their homes. According to news agency Reuters, at least seven people were killed and dozens injured. The quake hit the island's north at a depth of 12 kilometres (7.5 miles), about 70 kilometres from the town of Bukittinggi in West Sumatra province, according to USGS. No tsunami warning was issued and there were no immediate reports of serious damage, but the quake was felt in the neighbouring provinces of Riau and North Sumatra and as far away as Malaysia and Singapore. Also read | Fears for orangutans' future heightens amid shift in Indonesia's capital Residents said the 6.2 quake -- which struck just after 8:30 am -- came minutes after a less violent quake recorded by USGS as 5.0 magnitude. Alim Bazar, head of the disaster mitigation agency of Pasaman city near the quake's epicentre, told AFP some buildings suffered cracks. "The mayor called and ordered all second and third floors in every building should be vacated," he said. Bazar said there were reports of some injuries, but did not have any details. Also read | Magnitude 6.6 earthquake strikes off Indonesia's Java island Irpanda, a resident of Pasaman city who like many Indonesians goes by one name, told Metro TV that he felt both the first and second tremors. "At first, the quake only lasted for a few seconds. People fled their homes and buildings nearby were swaying," he said. "But then another quake happened and it was so strong. More people fled their houses," he said, adding patients at a local hospital were moved outside. Tremors were also felt in Singapore, witnesses and police said. "Earth tremors were... felt in certain parts of Singapore at about 9:45 am," the police said in a statement. The police and emergency services "have received several calls from the public reporting these tremors", the statement added. Malaysia's meteorological department said in a tweet that "vibrations" were felt on the peninsula's western states. Watch | Indonesia names new capital Nusantara, replacing Jakarta "Vibrations felt in the western Peninsular area especially in Selangor, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Malacca and Johor," the department said in the tweet. Indonesia sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", causing it to experience frequent earthquakes. In 2004, a 9.1-magnitude quake struck the coast of Sumatra and triggered a tsunami that killed 220,000 people throughout the region, including about 170,000 in Indonesia. (With inputs from agencies)

6.2-magnitude earthquake strikes Indonesia's Sumatra island, at least 7 killed

Doctors in&nbsp;Haiti&nbsp;on Monday battled in makeshift tents to save the lives of hundreds of injured people, including young children and the elderly, outside hospitals overwhelmed by an earthquake that killed at least 1,419 people.

While rescue teams toiled to dig out survivors of Saturday's 7.2 magnitude quake, a storm dumped heavy rain on the southern coast of&nbsp;Haiti, bringing flooding near the worst-hit areas and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis, local residents said.

Deus Deronneth, a politician from the Jacmel region, posted a video on Twitter showing a torrent of water sweeping through a local town and confirmed the flooding to Reuters.

The earthquake brought down tens of thousands of buildings in the deeply impoverished country, which is still recovering from a major temblor&nbsp;11 years ago and the assassination of its president, Jovenel Moise, on July 7.

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Dozens of churches, hotels, homes and schools were seriously damaged or ruined by the quake.&nbsp;Haitian authorities said on Monday afternoon that 1,419 fatalities had been confirmed, with some 6,900 people injured and 37,312 houses destroyed.

Data circulating among aid groups indicated over 450 additional deaths had been logged in the hardest-hit department, and&nbsp;Haitian officials warned the toll was likely to rise.

The areas in and around the city of Les Cayes - some 150 km (93 miles) west of the Caribbean country's capital Port-au-Prince - suffered the most damage, putting enormous strain on local hospitals, some of which were badly damaged.

Collapsed buildings lined the main street of the seafront city of 100,000 people. Dozens of men dug through rubble from a hotel whose owner died in the quake, residents said.

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The city's general hospital was overwhelmed, with doctors and nurses attending patients in tents in its crowded parking lot because there was no more room inside.

Dozens lay on beds and mattresses on the grass outside the hospital. Inside, patients were on stretchers on the floor or on cots in crowded rooms with relatives by their sides.

Babies were being transported out of the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit over concerns that the building was unsafe after the quake, according to a Reuters witness.

Dr. Lucette Gedeon, a pediatrician, had been volunteering at the makeshift neonatal ward since Saturday and said the hospital had run out of antibiotics and anesthetics.

"There have been babies that came in needing limbs amputated after they were trapped under the rubble," Gedeon said.

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Outside, Marceline Charles said her 1-month-old baby was hit by a brick when their house collapsed. The debris also cut a deep wound in the head of her 7-year-old daughter.

"I don't know whether she'll survive," Charles said.

Nearby, Michelle Delva stood next to her sister, Claudine, cradling the injured woman's infant. Delva said that when the earthquake struck, Claudine threw herself on top of her baby to save him from falling bricks. She broke her leg and needs an operation but they had been waiting outside since Saturday.

"She's not getting the attention she needs, the doctors are so busy," Delva said.

Prime Minister Ariel Henry said there was no time to lose.

"From this Monday, we will move faster. Aid provision is going to be accelerated," he wrote on Twitter. "We will multiply efforts tenfold to reach as many victims as possible with aid."

Port-au-Prince airport on Monday bustled with medics and aid workers scrambling to get to the south with supplies.

In addition to damage to some roads in the area, access to Les Cayes has been complicated by months of political turmoil in&nbsp;Haiti, which has left gangs in control of key access routes to parts of the country.

The United Nations called for a "humanitarian corridor"&nbsp;to enable aid to pass through gang-held territories.

It was unclear whether presidential elections planned for November to draw a line under the political confusion&nbsp;since Moise was assassinated could be held.

DIFFICULT TO REACH

At Les Cayes airport, ambulances brought the severely injured from nearby areas, a Reuters witness said. Casualties were carried on stretchers to small aircraft and a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter to be taken to Port-au-Prince, where hospital services were more intact.

With the phone network down in some areas, aid workers are still calibrating the damage. In difficult-to-reach villages, many houses were fragile and built on slopes vulnerable to landslides, said Alix Percinthe of the ActionAid charity.

Aid workers were hurrying to beat the onset of Tropical Depression Grace, which on Monday evening was moving west-northwest along southern&nbsp;Haiti, dumping heavy rain.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecast Grace would churn alongside the quake zone, and could douse some areas with up to 15 inches (38 cm) of rain through Tuesday.

Some&nbsp;Haitians who lost their homes have been sleeping outdoors, many traumatized by memories of a magnitude 7 quake https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/haitians-quake-reawakens-trauma-disaster-decade-ago-2021-08-15 in 2010 that struck far closer to Port-au-Prince, killing more than 200,000 people, according to the United Nations.

Those people in the streets would be exposed to rains amid a rising risk of waterborne diseases, such as cholera, according to Jerry Chandler, head of&nbsp;Haiti's Civil Protection Agency.

"We do have a serious issue," Chandler said on Sunday.

He said boats and helicopters were being used to bring in aid, but the government was working to establish safe access by road. Initial supplies have made it through by land.

In Jeremie, to the northwest of Les Cayes, doctors were forced to treat injured patients on hospital stretchers underneath trees and on mattresses by the side of the road.

Doctors in Haiti on Monday battled in makeshift tents to save the lives of hundreds of injured people, including young children and the elderly, outside hospitals overwhelmed by an earthquake that killed at least 1,419 people.

Doctors in Haiti on Monday battled in makeshift tents to save the lives of hundreds of injured people, including young children and the elderly, outside hospitals overwhelmed by an earthquake that killed at least 1,419 people. While rescue teams toiled to dig out survivors of Saturday's 7.2 magnitude quake, a storm dumped heavy rain on the southern coast of Haiti, bringing flooding near the worst-hit areas and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis, local residents said. Deus Deronneth, a politician from the Jacmel region, posted a video on Twitter showing a torrent of water sweeping through a local town and confirmed the flooding to Reuters. The earthquake brought down tens of thousands of buildings in the deeply impoverished country, which is still recovering from a major temblor 11 years ago and the assassination of its president, Jovenel Moise, on July 7. ALSO READ | Lake Mead: Colorado basin drought sparks water limits at huge US reservoir Dozens of churches, hotels, homes and schools were seriously damaged or ruined by the quake. Haitian authorities said on Monday afternoon that 1,419 fatalities had been confirmed, with some 6,900 people injured and 37,312 houses destroyed. Data circulating among aid groups indicated over 450 additional deaths had been logged in the hardest-hit department, and Haitian officials warned the toll was likely to rise. The areas in and around the city of Les Cayes - some 150 km (93 miles) west of the Caribbean country's capital Port-au-Prince - suffered the most damage, putting enormous strain on local hospitals, some of which were badly damaged. Collapsed buildings lined the main street of the seafront city of 100,000 people. Dozens of men dug through rubble from a hotel whose owner died in the quake, residents said. ALSO READ | COVID-19: The US eased its travel advisory for India, lowering it to Level 2 The city's general hospital was overwhelmed, with doctors and nurses attending patients in tents in its crowded parking lot because there was no more room inside. Dozens lay on beds and mattresses on the grass outside the hospital. Inside, patients were on stretchers on the floor or on cots in crowded rooms with relatives by their sides. Babies were being transported out of the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit over concerns that the building was unsafe after the quake, according to a Reuters witness. Dr. Lucette Gedeon, a pediatrician, had been volunteering at the makeshift neonatal ward since Saturday and said the hospital had run out of antibiotics and anesthetics. "There have been babies that came in needing limbs amputated after they were trapped under the rubble," Gedeon said. ALSO READ | New Zealand PM Ardern orders snap three-day national lockdown after virus case Outside, Marceline Charles said her 1-month-old baby was hit by a brick when their house collapsed. The debris also cut a deep wound in the head of her 7-year-old daughter. "I don't know whether she'll survive," Charles said. Nearby, Michelle Delva stood next to her sister, Claudine, cradling the injured woman's infant. Delva said that when the earthquake struck, Claudine threw herself on top of her baby to save him from falling bricks. She broke her leg and needs an operation but they had been waiting outside since Saturday. "She's not getting the attention she needs, the doctors are so busy," Delva said. Prime Minister Ariel Henry said there was no time to lose. "From this Monday, we will move faster. Aid provision is going to be accelerated," he wrote on Twitter. "We will multiply efforts tenfold to reach as many victims as possible with aid." Port-au-Prince airport on Monday bustled with medics and aid workers scrambling to get to the south with supplies. In addition to damage to some roads in the area, access to Les Cayes has been complicated by months of political turmoil in Haiti, which has left gangs in control of key access routes to parts of the country. The United Nations called for a "humanitarian corridor" to enable aid to pass through gang-held territories. It was unclear whether presidential elections planned for November to draw a line under the political confusion since Moise was assassinated could be held. DIFFICULT TO REACH At Les Cayes airport, ambulances brought the severely injured from nearby areas, a Reuters witness said. Casualties were carried on stretchers to small aircraft and a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter to be taken to Port-au-Prince, where hospital services were more intact. With the phone network down in some areas, aid workers are still calibrating the damage. In difficult-to-reach villages, many houses were fragile and built on slopes vulnerable to landslides, said Alix Percinthe of the ActionAid charity. Aid workers were hurrying to beat the onset of Tropical Depression Grace, which on Monday evening was moving west-northwest along southern Haiti, dumping heavy rain. The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecast Grace would churn alongside the quake zone, and could douse some areas with up to 15 inches (38 cm) of rain through Tuesday. Some Haitians who lost their homes have been sleeping outdoors, many traumatized by memories of a magnitude 7 quake https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/haitians-quake-reawakens-trauma-disaster-decade-ago-2021-08-15 in 2010 that struck far closer to Port-au-Prince, killing more than 200,000 people, according to the United Nations. Those people in the streets would be exposed to rains amid a rising risk of waterborne diseases, such as cholera, according to Jerry Chandler, head of Haiti's Civil Protection Agency. "We do have a serious issue," Chandler said on Sunday. He said boats and helicopters were being used to bring in aid, but the government was working to establish safe access by road. Initial supplies have made it through by land. In Jeremie, to the northwest of Les Cayes, doctors were forced to treat injured patients on hospital stretchers underneath trees and on mattresses by the side of the road.

Storm brings floods as Haitians seek help at overloaded hospitals after quake

A 3.9 magnitude earthquake struck at 88 km east of Katra of Reasi district in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, according to the National Center for Seismology (NCS), the government's nodal agency for monitoring seismic activity in the country.

As per NCS, the tremor was felt at 4:55 am today.

The quake hit at a depth of more than 5 kilometres, the agency said 
Earlier, on July 8, an earthquake of magnitude 4.3 occurred near Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir.

(With inputs from agencies)

A 3.9 magnitude earthquake struck at 88 km east of Katra of Reasi district in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, according to the National Center for Seismology (NCS), the government's nodal agency for monitoring seismic activity in the country.

A 3.9 magnitude earthquake struck at 88 km east of Katra of Reasi district in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, according to the National Center for Seismology (NCS), the government's nodal agency for monitoring seismic activity in the country. As per NCS, the tremor was felt at 4:55 am today. The quake hit at a depth of more than 5 kilometres, the agency said Earlier, on July 8, an earthquake of magnitude 4.3 occurred near Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir. (With inputs from agencies)

3.9 magnitude earthquake strikes near Reasi district in Jammu and Kashmir: Centre for seismology

A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck Indonesia on Saturday, the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre said. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck Indonesia on Saturday, the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre said. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. The quake's epicentre was 105 kilometres (65 miles)south of Palu on the island of Sulawesi, and 40 km (25 miles) below the earth's surface. Indonesia's meteorology and geophysics agency noted on its website that two subsequent earthquakes struck nearby areas in the Central Sulawesi province. The spokesman for Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Indonesia is situated on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, which is frequently hit by earthquakes that are sometimes accompanied by tsunamis. (With inputs from Reuters)

Magnitude 5.8 quake hits Indonesia, no immediate reports of damage or casualties

A strong earthquake of 6.9 magnitude struck off the southern Philippine island of Mindanao on Saturday, raising fears of dangerous tsunami waves across the region but after about two hours, the tsunami warning was withdrawn.

There were no reports of casualties or damage from the earthquake, which the US&nbsp;Geological Survey (USGS) said struck 193 km (120 miles) east of the Philippine city of General Santos, at a depth of 60 km (37 miles).

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially said "hazardous tsunami waves" were possible within 300 km (186 miles) of the epicentre", along the coasts of the Philippines, Indonesia and the Pacific island nation of Palau.

But about two hours after the quake struck, the center said there was no longer a tsunami threat.

The USGS initially said the magnitude of the quake was 7.2 but later downgraded it to 6.9.

Residents of the southern Philippines said the earthquake lasted about a minute and people rushed out of buildings but there had been no major damage.

"I was at the front desk and saw the chandeliers swaying," Jonna Ramos, who works at the Anchor Hotel in General Santos, told Reuters by telephone, adding that all guests and staff had left the building but later went back in.

Indonesian media also said there were no reports of damage.

The Philippines and Indonesia are both on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", a horse-shoe shaped band of volcanoes and fault lines circling the edges of the Pacific Ocean.

Indonesia has been struck by two serious tsunami this year.

The first followed a 7.5 magnitude quake on the west coast of Sulawesi island in September. More than 2,000 people were killed.

The second tsunami struck a week ago, on Saturday evening, when part of a volcanic island collapsed in the Sunda Strait, between Java and Sumatra islands, generating tsunami waves that killed more than 400 people.

A strong earthquake of 6.9 magnitude struck off the southern Philippine island of Mindanao on Saturday, raising fears of dangerous tsunami waves across the region but after about two hours, the tsunami warning was withdrawn.

A strong earthquake of 6.9 magnitude struck off the southern Philippine island of Mindanao on Saturday, raising fears of dangerous tsunami waves across the region but after about two hours, the tsunami warning was withdrawn. There were no reports of casualties or damage from the earthquake, which the US Geological Survey (USGS) said struck 193 km (120 miles) east of the Philippine city of General Santos, at a depth of 60 km (37 miles). The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially said "hazardous tsunami waves" were possible within 300 km (186 miles) of the epicentre", along the coasts of the Philippines, Indonesia and the Pacific island nation of Palau. But about two hours after the quake struck, the center said there was no longer a tsunami threat. The USGS initially said the magnitude of the quake was 7.2 but later downgraded it to 6.9. Residents of the southern Philippines said the earthquake lasted about a minute and people rushed out of buildings but there had been no major damage. "I was at the front desk and saw the chandeliers swaying," Jonna Ramos, who works at the Anchor Hotel in General Santos, told Reuters by telephone, adding that all guests and staff had left the building but later went back in. Indonesian media also said there were no reports of damage. The Philippines and Indonesia are both on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", a horse-shoe shaped band of volcanoes and fault lines circling the edges of the Pacific Ocean. Indonesia has been struck by two serious tsunami this year. The first followed a 7.5 magnitude quake on the west coast of Sulawesi island in September. More than 2,000 people were killed. The second tsunami struck a week ago, on Saturday evening, when part of a volcanic island collapsed in the Sunda Strait, between Java and Sumatra islands, generating tsunami waves that killed more than 400 people.

Strong quake strikes off Philippines, tsunami warning withdrawn

More than 2,100 people were evacuated on Monday after a 5.8-magnitude earthquake jolted China's Tibet Autonomous Region.&nbsp;

No casualty has been reported so far in the quake which hit the Xaitongmoin County in the city of Xigaze at 3:32 am (local time).

The quake struck at a depth of 8 km, according to the China Earthquake Networks Centre.&nbsp;

Investigators have found cracks in some rural houses and damage on some live-stock sheds in the county, according to the county's publicity department.

The local authorities have prepared tents, quilts, coats and medical supplies for the affected people.

Traffic and telecommunications in the region have remained undisturbed, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.&nbsp;

More than 2,100 people were evacuated on Monday after a 5.8-magnitude earthquake jolted China's Tibet Autonomous Region. No casualty has been reported so far in the quake which hit the Xaitongmoin County in the city of Xigaze at 3:32 am (local time).

More than 2,100 people were evacuated on Monday after a 5.8-magnitude earthquake jolted China's Tibet Autonomous Region. No casualty has been reported so far in the quake which hit the Xaitongmoin County in the city of Xigaze at 3:32 am (local time). The quake struck at a depth of 8 km, according to the China Earthquake Networks Centre. Investigators have found cracks in some rural houses and damage on some live-stock sheds in the county, according to the county's publicity department. The local authorities have prepared tents, quilts, coats and medical supplies for the affected people. Traffic and telecommunications in the region have remained undisturbed, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Thousands evacuated after 5.8-magnitude earthquake hits Tibet

&nbsp;A 6.4-magnitude earthquake hit in waters off the Pacific island nation of Tonga on Monday, the US Geological Survey said, but no tsunami warning was issued.

The quake struck at a moderate depth of 100 kilometres (62 miles) with the epicentre some 85 kilometres north of the Tongan capital Nuku'alofa.

There were no immediate reports of damage.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no tsunami threat. Baea Filimoehala from the reception at the Emerald Hotel in Nuku'alofa told AFP there was no damage in the capital, describing the quake as a "small one".&nbsp;

A 6.4-magnitude earthquake hit in waters off the Pacific island nation of Tonga on Monday, the US Geological Survey said, but no tsunami warning was issued. The quake struck at a moderate depth of 100 kilometres (62 miles) with the epicentre some 85 kilometres north of the Tongan capital Nuku'alofa.

A 6.4-magnitude earthquake hit in waters off the Pacific island nation of Tonga on Monday, the US Geological Survey said, but no tsunami warning was issued. The quake struck at a moderate depth of 100 kilometres (62 miles) with the epicentre some 85 kilometres north of the Tongan capital Nuku'alofa. There were no immediate reports of damage. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no tsunami threat. Baea Filimoehala from the reception at the Emerald Hotel in Nuku'alofa told AFP there was no damage in the capital, describing the quake as a "small one".

6.4-magnitude earthquake hits off coast of Tonga: USGS

A 6.1-magnitude earthquake hit Papua, in eastern Indonesia Sunday, US seismologists said, but no tsunami warning was issued.

The quake was about 158 kilometres (98 miles) south-southwest of the province's capital Jayapura at 6:42 pm (0942 GMT), at a depth of 61 kilometres, according to the US Geological Survey.

The quake was felt in Jayapura, but residents didn't panic, a military spokesman said.&nbsp;

"I felt it at home," Papua's military spokesman in Jayapura Dax Sianturi said.&nbsp;

Officials are still assessing the impact of the quake, but there were no immediate reports of casualties.

Indonesia experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its position on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", where tectonic plates collide.

Last September, a 7.5-magnitude quake and a subsequent tsunami in Palu on Sulawesi island killed more than 2,200 with a thousand more declared missing.

On boxing day December 26, 2004, a 9.1-magnitude earthquake struck Aceh province, causing a tsunami and killing more than 170,000 in Indonesia.

A 6.1-magnitude earthquake hit Papua, in eastern Indonesia Sunday, US seismologists said, but no tsunami warning was issued. The quake was about 158 kilometres (98 miles) south-southwest of the province's capital Jayapura at 6:42 pm (0942 GMT), at a depth of 61 kilometres, according to the US Geological Survey.

A 6.1-magnitude earthquake hit Papua, in eastern Indonesia Sunday, US seismologists said, but no tsunami warning was issued. The quake was about 158 kilometres (98 miles) south-southwest of the province's capital Jayapura at 6:42 pm (0942 GMT), at a depth of 61 kilometres, according to the US Geological Survey. The quake was felt in Jayapura, but residents didn't panic, a military spokesman said. "I felt it at home," Papua's military spokesman in Jayapura Dax Sianturi said. Officials are still assessing the impact of the quake, but there were no immediate reports of casualties. Indonesia experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its position on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", where tectonic plates collide. Last September, a 7.5-magnitude quake and a subsequent tsunami in Palu on Sulawesi island killed more than 2,200 with a thousand more declared missing. On boxing day December 26, 2004, a 9.1-magnitude earthquake struck Aceh province, causing a tsunami and killing more than 170,000 in Indonesia.

6.1-magnitude earthquake rocks Indonesia's Papua

A strong 6.1 magnitude earthquake hit in the Pacific off the coast of El Salvador on Sunday, shaking people in the western portions of the country near the border with Guatemala but causing no damage.

The US Geological Survey said the tremor occurred 24 kilometres under the surface. Its epicentre was 93.4 kilometres southwest of the Salvadoran coastal town of Acajutla.

Carlos Lopez Mendoza of the Salvadoran Red Cross said officials had checked throughout the affected area without finding any indications of problems. 
"There are no reports of damages or victims," he said.

Pedro Escamilla, who lives in Santa Tecla, 10 kilometres west of the capital, said the quake was not violent. 
"It was a long, swaying, but gentle earthquake," he said.

A strong 6.1 magnitude earthquake hit in the Pacific off the coast of El Salvador on Sunday, shaking people in the western portions of the country near the border with Guatemala but causing no damage.

A strong 6.1 magnitude earthquake hit in the Pacific off the coast of El Salvador on Sunday, shaking people in the western portions of the country near the border with Guatemala but causing no damage. The US Geological Survey said the tremor occurred 24 kilometres under the surface. Its epicentre was 93.4 kilometres southwest of the Salvadoran coastal town of Acajutla. Carlos Lopez Mendoza of the Salvadoran Red Cross said officials had checked throughout the affected area without finding any indications of problems. "There are no reports of damages or victims," he said. Pedro Escamilla, who lives in Santa Tecla, 10 kilometres west of the capital, said the quake was not violent. "It was a long, swaying, but gentle earthquake," he said.

6.1 magnitude quake hits off El Salvador; no damage reports

Some 1,600 survivors from Indonesia's earthquake and tsunami were whisked to safety by a Navy warship Wednesday, providing much-needed relief for a lucky few after five days marked by shortages and grief.

The KRI Makassar docked at the devastated city of Palu in central Sulawesi to take families, the elderly and the infirm to the relative safety of Makassar in the island's south.

The ship came loaded with humanitarian aid "which will be distributed in Central Sulawesi, especially Palu and Donggala" said Palu Navy base commander Tommy Herlambang.

In anticipation of the return voyage, old women on wheelchairs were lifted aboard the vessel as military doctors examined patients and parents distracted children with lollipops and toys.

In the cargo bay, clusters of families sat around on blankets as if picnicking in the park.

"We want to find safety, because we heard the mud has started to move again," said Rusella, one of the evacuees.

Friday's quake reduced buildings to rubble around Palu and left over 1,400 people dead.&nbsp;

A further 200,000 people in the vicinity of the quake need urgent assistance, according to the UN's humanitarian affairs office.

Some 1,600 survivors from Indonesia's earthquake and tsunami were whisked to safety by a Navy warship Wednesday, providing much-needed relief for a lucky few after five days marked by shortages and grief.

Some 1,600 survivors from Indonesia's earthquake and tsunami were whisked to safety by a Navy warship Wednesday, providing much-needed relief for a lucky few after five days marked by shortages and grief. The KRI Makassar docked at the devastated city of Palu in central Sulawesi to take families, the elderly and the infirm to the relative safety of Makassar in the island's south. The ship came loaded with humanitarian aid "which will be distributed in Central Sulawesi, especially Palu and Donggala" said Palu Navy base commander Tommy Herlambang. In anticipation of the return voyage, old women on wheelchairs were lifted aboard the vessel as military doctors examined patients and parents distracted children with lollipops and toys. In the cargo bay, clusters of families sat around on blankets as if picnicking in the park. "We want to find safety, because we heard the mud has started to move again," said Rusella, one of the evacuees. Friday's quake reduced buildings to rubble around Palu and left over 1,400 people dead. A further 200,000 people in the vicinity of the quake need urgent assistance, according to the UN's humanitarian affairs office.

Indonesia: Warship evacuates hundreds from quake-struck Palu

India on Tuesday dispatched relief material to<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/video-indonesia-raises-quake-tsunami-death-toll-1234-168900"> calamity-hit Indonesia</a> on three Navy ships namely Tir, Sujata and Shardul,&nbsp;according to the Indian&nbsp;Navy spokesperson.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) said that two&nbsp;aircrafts have been loaded with relief material including "15.66T of tentage and generators, 16T of medicines" which have been sent by the National Disaster Management Authority. The planes are en route Chennai and will set course for Makassar by Tuesday evening.

The massive 7.5-magnitude tremor struck Friday and sent monster waves barrelling into the island of Sulawesi, leaving at 1234 dead in the seaside city of Palu and surrounding areas.

In response to Indonesia’s appeal for international aid, the Prime Minister offered to Widodo all possible assistance from India as a maritime neighbour and as a friend of Indonesia.&nbsp;

On Monday, the Navy had diverted the three ships that were deployed in Southeast Asia to tsunami-hit Indonesia for humanitarian assistance.

India, on Saturday, expressed deep sympathies to the people and government of Indonesia and assured all help to the country hit by a tsunami triggered by a strong earthquake.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday called up Indonesian President Joko Widodo and offered assistance to the tsunami-hit country.

PM Modi appreciated the resilience and courage of the people of Indonesia in facing the challenges emanating from the widespread devastation due to the grave natural calamity, it said.&nbsp;

India on Tuesday dispatched relief material to calamity-hit Indonesia on three Navy ships namely Tir, Sujata and Shardul, according to the Indian Navy spokesperson.

India on Tuesday dispatched relief material to calamity-hit Indonesia on three Navy ships namely Tir, Sujata and Shardul, according to the Indian Navy spokesperson. The Indian Air Force (IAF) said that two aircrafts have been loaded with relief material including "15.66T of tentage and generators, 16T of medicines" which have been sent by the National Disaster Management Authority. The planes are en route Chennai and will set course for Makassar by Tuesday evening. The massive 7.5-magnitude tremor struck Friday and sent monster waves barrelling into the island of Sulawesi, leaving at 1234 dead in the seaside city of Palu and surrounding areas. In response to Indonesia’s appeal for international aid, the Prime Minister offered to Widodo all possible assistance from India as a maritime neighbour and as a friend of Indonesia. On Monday, the Navy had diverted the three ships that were deployed in Southeast Asia to tsunami-hit Indonesia for humanitarian assistance. India, on Saturday, expressed deep sympathies to the people and government of Indonesia and assured all help to the country hit by a tsunami triggered by a strong earthquake. Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday called up Indonesian President Joko Widodo and offered assistance to the tsunami-hit country. PM Modi appreciated the resilience and courage of the people of Indonesia in facing the challenges emanating from the widespread devastation due to the grave natural calamity, it said.

India dispatches relief material to calamity-hit Indonesia 

Nearly 400 people were killed when a powerful quake sent a tsunami barrelling into the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, officials said Saturday, as hospitals struggled to cope with hundreds of injured and rescuers scrambled to reach the stricken region.

The national disaster agency put the official death toll so far at 384, all of them in the tsunami-struck city of Palu, but warned the toll was likely to rise.

Some 540 people were badly injured, it added.

In the city -- home to around 350,000 people -- partially covered bodies lay on the ground near the shore, the day after tsunami waves 1.5 metres (five feet) high hit the coast.

There were also concerns over the whereabouts of hundreds of people preparing for a beach festival that had been due to start Friday evening, the disaster agency said.

Hospitals were overwhelmed by the influx of injured, with many people being treated in the open air, while other survivors helped to retrieve the remains of those who died.

One man was seen carrying the muddy corpse of a small child.

The tsunami was triggered by a strong quake that brought down buildings and sent locals fleeing for higher ground as a churning wall of water crashed into Palu, where there were widespread power blackouts.

Dramatic video footage captured from the top floor of a parking ramp in Palu, nearly 80 kilometres (50 miles) from the quake's epicentre, showed waves bring down several buildings and inundate a large mosque.

"I just ran when I saw the waves hitting homes on the coastline," said Palu resident Rusidanto, who like many Indonesians goes by one name.

About 17,000 people had been evacuated, the disaster agency said, and that figure is expected to rise.

The shallow 7.5 magnitude tremor was more powerful than a series of quakes that killed hundreds on the Indonesian island of Lombok in July and August.

Indonesian president Joko Widodo said the military was being called in to the disaster-struck region to help search-and-rescue teams get to victims and find bodies.&nbsp;

"This was a terrifying double disaster," said Jan Gelfand, a Jakarta-based official at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

"The Indonesian Red Cross is racing to help survivors but we don't know what they'll find there."

The massive tremors were felt hundreds of kilometres away and there has been little word about casualties in Donggala, a region north of Palu where at least one person was reported dead in Friday's quakes.

"We have heard nothing from Donggala and this is extremely worrying," Gelfand said.&nbsp;

"There are more than 300,000 people living there. This is already a tragedy, but it could get much worse."

The quake hit just off central Sulawesi at a depth of 10 kilometres just before 1100&nbsp;GMT -- early evening in Indonesia -- the US Geological Survey said. Such shallow quakes tend to be more destructive.

Pictures supplied by the disaster agency showed a badly damaged shopping mall in Palu where at least one floor had collapsed onto the storey below, while other photographs showed major damage to buildings and large cracks across pavements.

Homes and a local hotel were flattened while a landmark city bridge was destroyed.

Video from the scene showed the double-arched, yellow bridge had collapsed with its two metal arches twisted as cars bobbed in the water below.

An AFP reporter on the scene saw widespread damage some 50 metres inland.

A key access road had been badly damaged and was partially blocked by landslides, the disaster agency said.

The main airport in Palu, capital of South Sulawesi province, was shut after the tsunami struck and was expected to stay closed for at least 24 hours, complicating any disaster relief efforts.

Friday's tremor was also felt in the far south of the island in its largest city Makassar and on neighbouring Kalimantan, Indonesia's portion of Borneo island.

The initial quake struck as evening prayers were about to begin in the world's biggest Muslim majority country on the holiest day of the week, when mosques are especially busy.

Indonesia is one of the most disaster-prone nations on earth.

It lies on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", where tectonic plates collide and many of the world's volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur.

Earlier this year, a series of powerful quakes hit Lombok, killing more than 550 people on the holiday island and neighbouring Sumbawa.

Indonesia has been hit by a string of other deadly quakes including a devastating 9.1 magnitude tremor&nbsp;that struck off the coast of Sumatra in December 2004.

That Boxing Day quake triggered a tsunami that killed 220,000 throughout the region, including 168,000 in Indonesia.

In 2010, about 430 were killed when a huge quake sparked a tsunami off the coast of Sumatra, while more than 600 died in a quake-tsunami disaster on Java island.

Nearly 400 people were killed when a powerful quake sent a tsunami barrelling into the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, officials said Saturday, as hospitals struggled to cope with hundreds of injured and rescuers scrambled to reach the stricken region.

Nearly 400 people were killed when a powerful quake sent a tsunami barrelling into the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, officials said Saturday, as hospitals struggled to cope with hundreds of injured and rescuers scrambled to reach the stricken region. The national disaster agency put the official death toll so far at 384, all of them in the tsunami-struck city of Palu, but warned the toll was likely to rise. Some 540 people were badly injured, it added. In the city -- home to around 350,000 people -- partially covered bodies lay on the ground near the shore, the day after tsunami waves 1.5 metres (five feet) high hit the coast. There were also concerns over the whereabouts of hundreds of people preparing for a beach festival that had been due to start Friday evening, the disaster agency said. Hospitals were overwhelmed by the influx of injured, with many people being treated in the open air, while other survivors helped to retrieve the remains of those who died. One man was seen carrying the muddy corpse of a small child. The tsunami was triggered by a strong quake that brought down buildings and sent locals fleeing for higher ground as a churning wall of water crashed into Palu, where there were widespread power blackouts. Dramatic video footage captured from the top floor of a parking ramp in Palu, nearly 80 kilometres (50 miles) from the quake's epicentre, showed waves bring down several buildings and inundate a large mosque. "I just ran when I saw the waves hitting homes on the coastline," said Palu resident Rusidanto, who like many Indonesians goes by one name. About 17,000 people had been evacuated, the disaster agency said, and that figure is expected to rise. The shallow 7.5 magnitude tremor was more powerful than a series of quakes that killed hundreds on the Indonesian island of Lombok in July and August. Indonesian president Joko Widodo said the military was being called in to the disaster-struck region to help search-and-rescue teams get to victims and find bodies. "This was a terrifying double disaster," said Jan Gelfand, a Jakarta-based official at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. "The Indonesian Red Cross is racing to help survivors but we don't know what they'll find there." The massive tremors were felt hundreds of kilometres away and there has been little word about casualties in Donggala, a region north of Palu where at least one person was reported dead in Friday's quakes. "We have heard nothing from Donggala and this is extremely worrying," Gelfand said. "There are more than 300,000 people living there. This is already a tragedy, but it could get much worse." The quake hit just off central Sulawesi at a depth of 10 kilometres just before 1100 GMT -- early evening in Indonesia -- the US Geological Survey said. Such shallow quakes tend to be more destructive. Pictures supplied by the disaster agency showed a badly damaged shopping mall in Palu where at least one floor had collapsed onto the storey below, while other photographs showed major damage to buildings and large cracks across pavements. Homes and a local hotel were flattened while a landmark city bridge was destroyed. Video from the scene showed the double-arched, yellow bridge had collapsed with its two metal arches twisted as cars bobbed in the water below. An AFP reporter on the scene saw widespread damage some 50 metres inland. A key access road had been badly damaged and was partially blocked by landslides, the disaster agency said. The main airport in Palu, capital of South Sulawesi province, was shut after the tsunami struck and was expected to stay closed for at least 24 hours, complicating any disaster relief efforts. Friday's tremor was also felt in the far south of the island in its largest city Makassar and on neighbouring Kalimantan, Indonesia's portion of Borneo island. The initial quake struck as evening prayers were about to begin in the world's biggest Muslim majority country on the holiest day of the week, when mosques are especially busy. Indonesia is one of the most disaster-prone nations on earth. It lies on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", where tectonic plates collide and many of the world's volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur. Earlier this year, a series of powerful quakes hit Lombok, killing more than 550 people on the holiday island and neighbouring Sumbawa. Indonesia has been hit by a string of other deadly quakes including a devastating 9.1 magnitude tremor that struck off the coast of Sumatra in December 2004. That Boxing Day quake triggered a tsunami that killed 220,000 throughout the region, including 168,000 in Indonesia. In 2010, about 430 were killed when a huge quake sparked a tsunami off the coast of Sumatra, while more than 600 died in a quake-tsunami disaster on Java island.

Hundreds killed in Indonesia quake-tsunami

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