A 4.5-magnitude earthquake hit the Indo-Nepal border in Uttar Pradesh Friday afternoon, the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) said.&nbsp;

There were no immediate reports of casualties.&nbsp;

The NCS, which works under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, said the quake was reported at 12.45 pm at a depth of 33 km.&nbsp;

A 4.5-magnitude earthquake hit the Indo-Nepal border in Uttar Pradesh Friday afternoon, the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) said. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

A 4.5-magnitude earthquake hit the Indo-Nepal border in Uttar Pradesh Friday afternoon, the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) said. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The NCS, which works under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, said the quake was reported at 12.45 pm at a depth of 33 km.

4.5-magnitude earthquake hits India-Nepal border

International efforts to help survivors of Indonesia`s devastating earthquake and tsunami gathered pace on Thursday as concern grew for hundreds of thousands with little food and water, six days after disaster struck.

Desperate residents on the west coast of Sulawesi island were scavenging for food in farms and orchards as the government struggled to overcome shortages of water, food, shelter and fuel in a disaster zone with no power and degraded communications.

Chaos has loomed at times with angry people in the region`s main city of Palu, 1,500 km (930 miles) northeast of Jakarta, looting shops and thronging its small airport, scrambling for any flight out. 
The official death toll from last Friday`s 7.5 magnitude quake has risen to 1,407, many killed by tsunami waves and landslides it triggered. Officials say the toll will rise.

Most of the confirmed dead have come from Palu and losses in remote areas remain unknown. Communications are down and bridges and roads have been destroyed or blocked by slips.

But international efforts to help are gearing up, after the government overcame a traditional reluctance to take foreign aid.

"The government of Indonesia is experienced and well-equipped in managing natural disasters, but sometimes, as with all other countries, outside help is also needed," UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock said in a statement. 
He announced an allocation of $15 million.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said it was appealing for 22 million Swiss francs ($22 million) to help Indonesia.

The United States had provided initial funding, deployed government disaster experts and was working to determine what other help could be given, the State Department said earlier this week.

Some aid from Britain and Australia as also due to arrive on Thursday.

In all, about 20 countries have offered help, Indonesia has said.

In Palu, some shops and banks reopened on Thursday and a major mobile phone network was back into operation. A sense of calm seemed to be returning with orderly queues at petrol stations after the arrival of fuel shipments.

'Difficult time'

Indonesian Central Bank Governor Perry Warjiyo played down the overall impact on Southeast Asia’s biggest economy of the disaster in Sulawesi, and of earlier deadly quakes on the tourist island of Lombok.&nbsp;

"This is really a challenging and difficult time for Indonesia and for all of us, but we are united and we stand strong and we are confident to withstand this difficult time," he told a briefing of the Jakarta Foreign Correspondents Club on Wednesday evening.&nbsp;

Bank Indonesia was helping to restore payment systems and some cash machines were working again in Palu as banks reopened, he said. 
Indonesia has long been known to be vulnerable to quakes and tsunamis.

In 2004, a quake off Sumatra island triggered a tsunami across the Indian Ocean that killed 226,000 people in 13 countries, including more than 120,000 in Indonesia.

Safety measures implemented after that disaster, including tsunami warning systems, failed on Friday for various reasons, including government neglect, a lack of funding and vandalism.

A system of tsunami-detecting buoys has been out of action since 2012. Widodo said this week it had to be repaired and properly maintained.

Widodo, on his second visit to the disaster zone on Wednesday, acknowledged the aid effort had yet to reach maximum capacity. In particular, he cited inadequate logistics support and fuel supplies.&nbsp;

Also problematic has been a lack of heavy equipment for rescue workers and food, water and shelter for some 70,000 displaced people.

Rescue workers have begun to reach more remote areas in a disaster zone that includes 1.4 million people, but hundreds of thousands have received no aid.

International efforts to help survivors of Indonesia`s devastating earthquake and tsunami gathered pace on Thursday as concern grew for hundreds of thousands with little food and water, six days after disaster struck.

International efforts to help survivors of Indonesia`s devastating earthquake and tsunami gathered pace on Thursday as concern grew for hundreds of thousands with little food and water, six days after disaster struck. Desperate residents on the west coast of Sulawesi island were scavenging for food in farms and orchards as the government struggled to overcome shortages of water, food, shelter and fuel in a disaster zone with no power and degraded communications. Chaos has loomed at times with angry people in the region`s main city of Palu, 1,500 km (930 miles) northeast of Jakarta, looting shops and thronging its small airport, scrambling for any flight out. The official death toll from last Friday`s 7.5 magnitude quake has risen to 1,407, many killed by tsunami waves and landslides it triggered. Officials say the toll will rise. Most of the confirmed dead have come from Palu and losses in remote areas remain unknown. Communications are down and bridges and roads have been destroyed or blocked by slips. But international efforts to help are gearing up, after the government overcame a traditional reluctance to take foreign aid. "The government of Indonesia is experienced and well-equipped in managing natural disasters, but sometimes, as with all other countries, outside help is also needed," UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock said in a statement. He announced an allocation of $15 million. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said it was appealing for 22 million Swiss francs ($22 million) to help Indonesia. The United States had provided initial funding, deployed government disaster experts and was working to determine what other help could be given, the State Department said earlier this week. Some aid from Britain and Australia as also due to arrive on Thursday. In all, about 20 countries have offered help, Indonesia has said. In Palu, some shops and banks reopened on Thursday and a major mobile phone network was back into operation. A sense of calm seemed to be returning with orderly queues at petrol stations after the arrival of fuel shipments. 'Difficult time' Indonesian Central Bank Governor Perry Warjiyo played down the overall impact on Southeast Asia’s biggest economy of the disaster in Sulawesi, and of earlier deadly quakes on the tourist island of Lombok. "This is really a challenging and difficult time for Indonesia and for all of us, but we are united and we stand strong and we are confident to withstand this difficult time," he told a briefing of the Jakarta Foreign Correspondents Club on Wednesday evening. Bank Indonesia was helping to restore payment systems and some cash machines were working again in Palu as banks reopened, he said. Indonesia has long been known to be vulnerable to quakes and tsunamis. In 2004, a quake off Sumatra island triggered a tsunami across the Indian Ocean that killed 226,000 people in 13 countries, including more than 120,000 in Indonesia. Safety measures implemented after that disaster, including tsunami warning systems, failed on Friday for various reasons, including government neglect, a lack of funding and vandalism. A system of tsunami-detecting buoys has been out of action since 2012. Widodo said this week it had to be repaired and properly maintained. Widodo, on his second visit to the disaster zone on Wednesday, acknowledged the aid effort had yet to reach maximum capacity. In particular, he cited inadequate logistics support and fuel supplies. Also problematic has been a lack of heavy equipment for rescue workers and food, water and shelter for some 70,000 displaced people. Rescue workers have begun to reach more remote areas in a disaster zone that includes 1.4 million people, but hundreds of thousands have received no aid.

Foreign aid picks up for Indonesia's desperate quake survivors

A 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck off the eastern coast of Russia's Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula on Thursday, the Geophysical Survey of the Russian Academy of Sciences (GS RAS) said.

"A seismic event took place on Thursday at daytime local time in the Kamchatka Strait off the eastern coast of the peninsula. The epicentre of the earthquake was located at the depth of over 50 kilometres (31 miles), 88 kilometres to the south of the locality of Ust-Kamchatsk," the GS RAS spokesperson said.

The spokesperson added that it was the fourth earthquake in the region over the past 24 hours. There were no victims or material damage reported so far.&nbsp;

A 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck off the eastern coast of Russia's Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula on Thursday, the Geophysical Survey of the Russian Academy of Sciences (GS RAS) said.

A 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck off the eastern coast of Russia's Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula on Thursday, the Geophysical Survey of the Russian Academy of Sciences (GS RAS) said. "A seismic event took place on Thursday at daytime local time in the Kamchatka Strait off the eastern coast of the peninsula. The epicentre of the earthquake was located at the depth of over 50 kilometres (31 miles), 88 kilometres to the south of the locality of Ust-Kamchatsk," the GS RAS spokesperson said. The spokesperson added that it was the fourth earthquake in the region over the past 24 hours. There were no victims or material damage reported so far.

5.7 magnitude earthquake hits Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula

The death toll from the powerful earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia has crossed 1,300 people, news reports citing the&nbsp;country's disaster management agency officials said Wednesday.

The reports said&nbsp;the death toll jumped to at least 1,347 from the previously confirmed figure of 1,234.

Indonesia's Palu island was hit by a strong 7.5-magnitude earthquake on Friday and subsequent tsunami waves which destroyed roads, triggered landslides and downed bridges on the island and in surrounding areas.

The quake brought down hotels, shopping malls and countless houses in Palu, while tsunami waves as high as six metres (20 feet) scoured its beachfront shortly afterwards.

More than 65,000 homes were also damaged and more than 60,000 people have been displaced and are in need of emergency help.

Meanwhile, the United Nations on Tuesday said that almost 200,000 people are in need of urgent help, among them are tens of thousands of children.

Survivors are battling thirst and hunger, with food and clean water in short supply, and local hospitals are overwhelmed by the number of injured.

As rescue efforts were being hampered due to the lack of personnel and heavy machinery Indonesian President Joko Widodo has ordered the national search and rescue agency to send more police and soldiers into the affected districts as rescuers are struggling to reach some areas after some remote areas have been got cut off due to severed transport links.

The government has also said it would accept offers of international aid, after shunning outside help earlier this year when an earthquake struck Lombok island.

According to a report by AFP, along the road to Donggala -- a large town close to the epicentre of the quake -- there were more scenes of destruction. The town itself appeared relatively unscathed, but in the worst affected areas, it was difficult to find a single vertical surface.

Indonesia, one of the most disaster-prone nations on earth, straddles the so-called Pacific "Ring of Fire", where tectonic plates collide and many of the world's volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur.

On Tuesday as well, Indonesia was shit by another two mild quakes which struck the island of Sumba, hundreds of kilometres from Palu.

However, so far no damage or casualty has been reported from Sumba island.

(with inputs from news agencies)

The death toll from the powerful earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia has crossed 1,300 people, news reports citing the country's disaster management agency officials said Wednesday.

The death toll from the powerful earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia has crossed 1,300 people, news reports citing the country's disaster management agency officials said Wednesday. The reports said the death toll jumped to at least 1,347 from the previously confirmed figure of 1,234. Indonesia's Palu island was hit by a strong 7.5-magnitude earthquake on Friday and subsequent tsunami waves which destroyed roads, triggered landslides and downed bridges on the island and in surrounding areas. The quake brought down hotels, shopping malls and countless houses in Palu, while tsunami waves as high as six metres (20 feet) scoured its beachfront shortly afterwards. More than 65,000 homes were also damaged and more than 60,000 people have been displaced and are in need of emergency help. Meanwhile, the United Nations on Tuesday said that almost 200,000 people are in need of urgent help, among them are tens of thousands of children. Survivors are battling thirst and hunger, with food and clean water in short supply, and local hospitals are overwhelmed by the number of injured. As rescue efforts were being hampered due to the lack of personnel and heavy machinery Indonesian President Joko Widodo has ordered the national search and rescue agency to send more police and soldiers into the affected districts as rescuers are struggling to reach some areas after some remote areas have been got cut off due to severed transport links. The government has also said it would accept offers of international aid, after shunning outside help earlier this year when an earthquake struck Lombok island. According to a report by AFP, along the road to Donggala -- a large town close to the epicentre of the quake -- there were more scenes of destruction. The town itself appeared relatively unscathed, but in the worst affected areas, it was difficult to find a single vertical surface. Indonesia, one of the most disaster-prone nations on earth, straddles the so-called Pacific "Ring of Fire", where tectonic plates collide and many of the world's volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur. On Tuesday as well, Indonesia was shit by another two mild quakes which struck the island of Sumba, hundreds of kilometres from Palu. However, so far no damage or casualty has been reported from Sumba island. (with inputs from news agencies)

Death toll in Indonesia earthquake, tsunami crosses 1,300: Reports

Indonesia's Mount Soputan erupts on quake-hit island, sending an ash cloud four kilometers high

The tsunami that ravaged the Indonesian city of Palu was outsized compared to the earthquake that spawned it, but other factors -- including a long, narrow bay -- conspired to create monster waves, scientists say.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/indonesia-steps-hunt-survivors-quake-toll-passes-1200-168980">Over 1200 people are already known to have died</a> in the disaster, and officials say that toll is likely to rise -- perhaps into the thousands.

The 7.5-magnitude quake, which struck early evening on Friday -- a time when many in the Muslim-majority country would have been at the mosque -- brought buildings down all over Palu and its surrounding area.

But it was an unlikely confluence of geophysical conditions that gave rise to a localised tsunami that washed away many other structures and certainly added to the human cost.

"The waves were at least two-to-three metres high, and possibly twice that," said Jane Cunneen, a research fellow at Curtin University's Faculty of Science and Engineering in Bentley, Western Australia, and an architect of the Indian Ocean's tsunami warning system, developed under UN guidance.

Judging by the earthquake, however, the tsunami shouldn't have been nearly that big.

"In the overwhelming majority of cases, tsunamis are generated by so-called thrust earthquakes, which create a large vertical displacement of the seafloor," said Baptiste Gombert, an expert on tectonics at Oxford University's department of earth sciences.

The Palu tsunami, by contrast, was generated by a strike-slip fault, where chunks of Earth's crust move over or under each other along a horizontal plane.

"Strike-slip faults are less likely to generate tsunamis, as they don't uplift the seafloor too much," said Cunneen.

So what caused the deadly waves? At least three factors, experts told AFP.

Submarine landslide

One is the singularly long channel of ocean water dead-ending at the low-lying city of Palu.

"The shape of the bay definitely played a major role in amplifying the size of the waves," said Anne Socquet, an earthquake expert at the Institute of Earth Sciences in Grenoble who has studied the region's seismic faults.

"The bay acted like a funnel into which the tsunami waves entered."

As the bay narrowed and became more shallow, the water was pushed up from below and squeezed from the sides at the same time.

A second ingredient was the size and location of the quake.

Magnitude 7.5 is a powerful earthquake -- only a few are recorded every year.&nbsp;

The one that struck Palu "was also really shallow, which means greater seafloor displacement," said Gombert.&nbsp;

To make things worse, the rupture was close to shore, leaving scant time or distance for the waves to dissipate.

Finally, circumstantial evidence suggests that the tsunami was magnified by the underwater equivalent of a landslide.

"The earthquake may have caused a submarine landside near the mouth of the bay, or even within the bay itself," said Cunneen, noting the waterway's steep earthen walls.

This would help explain why the waves were so big near Palu, but much smaller in the surrounding area.

"Such events are very hard to predict with our current tsunami warning systems, which rely on quick estimates of earthquake magnitude and location," Cunneen added.

The tsunami that ravaged the Indonesian city of Palu was outsized compared to the earthquake that spawned it, but other factors -- including a long, narrow bay -- conspired to create monster waves, scientists say.

The tsunami that ravaged the Indonesian city of Palu was outsized compared to the earthquake that spawned it, but other factors -- including a long, narrow bay -- conspired to create monster waves, scientists say. Over 1200 people are already known to have died in the disaster, and officials say that toll is likely to rise -- perhaps into the thousands. The 7.5-magnitude quake, which struck early evening on Friday -- a time when many in the Muslim-majority country would have been at the mosque -- brought buildings down all over Palu and its surrounding area. But it was an unlikely confluence of geophysical conditions that gave rise to a localised tsunami that washed away many other structures and certainly added to the human cost. "The waves were at least two-to-three metres high, and possibly twice that," said Jane Cunneen, a research fellow at Curtin University's Faculty of Science and Engineering in Bentley, Western Australia, and an architect of the Indian Ocean's tsunami warning system, developed under UN guidance. Judging by the earthquake, however, the tsunami shouldn't have been nearly that big. "In the overwhelming majority of cases, tsunamis are generated by so-called thrust earthquakes, which create a large vertical displacement of the seafloor," said Baptiste Gombert, an expert on tectonics at Oxford University's department of earth sciences. The Palu tsunami, by contrast, was generated by a strike-slip fault, where chunks of Earth's crust move over or under each other along a horizontal plane. "Strike-slip faults are less likely to generate tsunamis, as they don't uplift the seafloor too much," said Cunneen. So what caused the deadly waves? At least three factors, experts told AFP. Submarine landslide One is the singularly long channel of ocean water dead-ending at the low-lying city of Palu. "The shape of the bay definitely played a major role in amplifying the size of the waves," said Anne Socquet, an earthquake expert at the Institute of Earth Sciences in Grenoble who has studied the region's seismic faults. "The bay acted like a funnel into which the tsunami waves entered." As the bay narrowed and became more shallow, the water was pushed up from below and squeezed from the sides at the same time. A second ingredient was the size and location of the quake. Magnitude 7.5 is a powerful earthquake -- only a few are recorded every year. The one that struck Palu "was also really shallow, which means greater seafloor displacement," said Gombert. To make things worse, the rupture was close to shore, leaving scant time or distance for the waves to dissipate. Finally, circumstantial evidence suggests that the tsunami was magnified by the underwater equivalent of a landslide. "The earthquake may have caused a submarine landside near the mouth of the bay, or even within the bay itself," said Cunneen, noting the waterway's steep earthen walls. This would help explain why the waves were so big near Palu, but much smaller in the surrounding area. "Such events are very hard to predict with our current tsunami warning systems, which rely on quick estimates of earthquake magnitude and location," Cunneen added.

Indonesia tsunami worsened because of the shape of Palu bay: Scientists

Hundreds of people swarm an Indonesian state-owned petrol station in the quake-and-tsunami-struck city of Palu, where some would-be customers wait for more than a day to top up the tank.

"I've been here since yesterday, about 26 hours," says Pordawati Pakamundi, as she eyes her goal still several metres away.

"I think I've got around two or three more hours left."

The 56-year-old's aim is to buy five litres (1.3 gallons) of petrol from the Pertamina gas station for her motorbike.

"I've got a motorbike but no petrol," she said. "You can't get water (without a vehicle). You can't cook rice without water."

Along the forecourt floor, a meandering Domino line of jerrycans, water bottles and random containers -- each linked together by twine -- weaves back-and-forth and then across two adjacent car parks.&nbsp;

Each of the 710 vessels is numbered, and at the pump dozens of people had gathered two or three deep to see the conga line of containers filled in turn.&nbsp;

But several police armed with semi-automatic rifles and body armour are a pointed reminder of the tensions and growing desperation in this shattered city of 350,000 on Indonesia's Sulawesi island.

For Palu residents, petrol is a gateway. Without it the hunt for food or water or whatever other essentials are in scarce supply becomes exponentially more difficult.

"This is so I can search for supplies on the motorbike because getting supplies around here is tough," said Bilhan Mow.

"I'm buying one litre and one jerry can -- five litres in total. That's the rule here."

He's frustrated with waiting, but the options are limited.

"There is very little petrol left in my motorbike, it's at an emergency level, even if I go home, I wouldn’t make it, the engine will stop on the way and I would have to push," he says.

"So better for me to wait here for the gas."

Some residents elsewhere in the city have not been so patient, turning to looting in their bid to survive.

So precious is fuel that convoys of petrol tankers get an escort -- &nbsp;an armed police officer in the passenger seat of each tanker and a truck bulging with armed officers at both the nose and tail of the motorcade

Hundreds of people swarm an Indonesian state-owned petrol station in the quake-and-tsunami-struck city of Palu, where some would-be customers wait for more than a day to top up the tank.

Hundreds of people swarm an Indonesian state-owned petrol station in the quake-and-tsunami-struck city of Palu, where some would-be customers wait for more than a day to top up the tank. "I've been here since yesterday, about 26 hours," says Pordawati Pakamundi, as she eyes her goal still several metres away. "I think I've got around two or three more hours left." The 56-year-old's aim is to buy five litres (1.3 gallons) of petrol from the Pertamina gas station for her motorbike. "I've got a motorbike but no petrol," she said. "You can't get water (without a vehicle). You can't cook rice without water." Along the forecourt floor, a meandering Domino line of jerrycans, water bottles and random containers -- each linked together by twine -- weaves back-and-forth and then across two adjacent car parks. Each of the 710 vessels is numbered, and at the pump dozens of people had gathered two or three deep to see the conga line of containers filled in turn. But several police armed with semi-automatic rifles and body armour are a pointed reminder of the tensions and growing desperation in this shattered city of 350,000 on Indonesia's Sulawesi island. For Palu residents, petrol is a gateway. Without it the hunt for food or water or whatever other essentials are in scarce supply becomes exponentially more difficult. "This is so I can search for supplies on the motorbike because getting supplies around here is tough," said Bilhan Mow. "I'm buying one litre and one jerry can -- five litres in total. That's the rule here." He's frustrated with waiting, but the options are limited. "There is very little petrol left in my motorbike, it's at an emergency level, even if I go home, I wouldn’t make it, the engine will stop on the way and I would have to push," he says. "So better for me to wait here for the gas." Some residents elsewhere in the city have not been so patient, turning to looting in their bid to survive. So precious is fuel that convoys of petrol tankers get an escort -- an armed police officer in the passenger seat of each tanker and a truck bulging with armed officers at both the nose and tail of the motorcade

Day-long waits, frustration mark Indonesians' petrol quest

Two quakes struck in quick succession off the southern coast of Indonesia's Sumba island on Tuesday morning, sending startled people into the streets for safety.

A shallow and moderately strong 5.9 quake struck at 2359 GMT, around 40 kilometres (25 miles) off Sumba, an island of some 750,000 people, the United States Geological Survey said.

It was followed up some 15 minutes later by a stronger 6.0 magnitude quake in the same area at a depth of 30 kilometres.

The new&nbsp;quake hit Indonesia four days after a devastating quake on Sulawesi island which killed at least 844 people.

There were no immediate tsunami alerts or reports of casualties or damage

There were no immediate reports of serious damage.

"We felt four shakes. People were panicking when the first quake happened and ran out of the hotel, about 40 of our guests," Defis Rinaldi, a worker at the Padadita Beach Hotel told AFP by telephone.

"It was only a few seconds and the geophysics agency didn't issue a warning, everything is back to normal now," he said.

Sumba lies some 1,600 kilometres south of Sulawesi island which was struck by a devastating quake and tsunami on Friday, killing more than 800 people.

Two quakes struck in quick succession off the southern coast of Indonesia's Sumba island on Tuesday morning, sending startled people into the streets for safety.

Two quakes struck in quick succession off the southern coast of Indonesia's Sumba island on Tuesday morning, sending startled people into the streets for safety. A shallow and moderately strong 5.9 quake struck at 2359 GMT, around 40 kilometres (25 miles) off Sumba, an island of some 750,000 people, the United States Geological Survey said. It was followed up some 15 minutes later by a stronger 6.0 magnitude quake in the same area at a depth of 30 kilometres. The new quake hit Indonesia four days after a devastating quake on Sulawesi island which killed at least 844 people. There were no immediate tsunami alerts or reports of casualties or damage There were no immediate reports of serious damage. "We felt four shakes. People were panicking when the first quake happened and ran out of the hotel, about 40 of our guests," Defis Rinaldi, a worker at the Padadita Beach Hotel told AFP by telephone. "It was only a few seconds and the geophysics agency didn't issue a warning, everything is back to normal now," he said. Sumba lies some 1,600 kilometres south of Sulawesi island which was struck by a devastating quake and tsunami on Friday, killing more than 800 people.

Twin quakes hit off Indonesian island of Sumba, just days after 840 died in Sulawesi

Indonesian authorities on Tuesday raised the death toll to 1,234 for the 7.5-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami that hit Sulawesi island on September 28. Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesperson for the National Agency for Disaster Management, said at a press conference in Jakarta that 799 people with serious injuries have been admitted to different hospitals.

He added that 26 countries and two international organizations have offered assistance, but did not provide details on the NGOs that are working in the rescue operations and medical services on the ground.

Authorities raised the death toll on Tuesday after rescue teams were able to enter the areas that had been inaccessible since a 6.1-magnitude tremor struck the region on Sep 28, killing one person and wounding 20, followed by a 7.5-magnitude earthquake and the tsunami.

Sutopo said that there are still areas in the central region of Sulawesi that are difficult to access. Colonel Muhammad Thohir of the Indonesian Army said there are some areas that rescuers still cannot reach such as some districts in Donggala where authorities need to send aid via helicopter.

Palu is the capital of the province of Central Sulawesi with a population of about 350,000. It is located near Donggala district, which has a population of about 277,000. These areas are most affected by the disaster.

Col Thohir said gasoline and water supplies are being transported to the island, but they are still insufficient for the tens of thousands of affected people. Authorities are also working to restore electricity and telecommunications services as well as to reopen affected roads on the island.

According to the Indonesian authorities, priorities include sending food to those in need, conducting mass burials of victims and guaranteeing the security of the airport, which is expected to start receiving commercial flights on Wednesday.

On Lombok, at least 557 people died and over 400,000 were displaced by earthquakes between magnitude-6.3 and 6.9 that shook the island between July 29 and August 19. Indonesia sits on the so-called Ring of Fire of the Pacific, an area of great seismic and volcanic activity in which each year there are about 7,000 earthquakes, mostly moderate.

Indonesian authorities on Tuesday raised the death toll to 1,234 for the 7.5-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami that hit Sulawesi island on September 28.

Indonesian authorities on Tuesday raised the death toll to 1,234 for the 7.5-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami that hit Sulawesi island on September 28. Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesperson for the National Agency for Disaster Management, said at a press conference in Jakarta that 799 people with serious injuries have been admitted to different hospitals. He added that 26 countries and two international organizations have offered assistance, but did not provide details on the NGOs that are working in the rescue operations and medical services on the ground. Authorities raised the death toll on Tuesday after rescue teams were able to enter the areas that had been inaccessible since a 6.1-magnitude tremor struck the region on Sep 28, killing one person and wounding 20, followed by a 7.5-magnitude earthquake and the tsunami. Sutopo said that there are still areas in the central region of Sulawesi that are difficult to access. Colonel Muhammad Thohir of the Indonesian Army said there are some areas that rescuers still cannot reach such as some districts in Donggala where authorities need to send aid via helicopter. Palu is the capital of the province of Central Sulawesi with a population of about 350,000. It is located near Donggala district, which has a population of about 277,000. These areas are most affected by the disaster. Col Thohir said gasoline and water supplies are being transported to the island, but they are still insufficient for the tens of thousands of affected people. Authorities are also working to restore electricity and telecommunications services as well as to reopen affected roads on the island. According to the Indonesian authorities, priorities include sending food to those in need, conducting mass burials of victims and guaranteeing the security of the airport, which is expected to start receiving commercial flights on Wednesday. On Lombok, at least 557 people died and over 400,000 were displaced by earthquakes between magnitude-6.3 and 6.9 that shook the island between July 29 and August 19. Indonesia sits on the so-called Ring of Fire of the Pacific, an area of great seismic and volcanic activity in which each year there are about 7,000 earthquakes, mostly moderate.

Watch: Satellite images reveal Indonesia's Sulawesi Island after earthquake, tsunami

Satellite images reveal Indonesia's Sulawesi Island after earthquake, tsunami

The death toll from&nbsp;powerful earthquakes and tsunami in Indonesia jumped to over a thousand people on Tuesday.

According to news agency AFP, the death toll increased to 1,234 which was previously at 844 people.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Indonesia was again struck by <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/magnitude-62-quake-hits-near-flores-indonesia-usgs-168856">two quakes</a> early in the morning, sending startled people into streets for safety.

A shallow and moderately strong 5.9 quake struck at 2359 GMT, around 40 kilometres (25 miles) off Sumba, an island of some 750,000 people, the United States Geological Survey said.

It was followed up some 15 minutes later by a stronger 6.2 magnitude quake in the same area at a depth of 30 kilometres.
<img alt="Survivors walk on a damaged street outside Palu in Indonesia's Central Sulawesi" data-caption="Survivors walk on a damaged street outside Palu in Indonesia's Central Sulawesi. (Courtesy: AFP)" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="960b17db-7850-4d37-b5c0-d6e7b9cf2e61" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_19O8NJ_0.jpg" />
&nbsp;
<img alt="Indonesian soldiers bury quake victims in a mass grave in Poboya in Indonesia's Central Sulawesi." data-caption="Indonesian soldiers bury quake victims in a mass grave in Poboya in Indonesia's Central Sulawesi. (Courtesy: AFP)" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3da78a46-9717-4322-9469-378296f6cd4b" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_19O8MY_0.jpg" />
Indonesian President <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/indonesian-president-joko-widodo-visits-worst-hit-areas-earthquake-and-tsunami-168657">Joko Widodo</a> has ordered the national search and rescue agency to send more police and soldiers into the affected districts as the rescuers struggle to reach some areas after they got cut off &nbsp;Friday's 7.5 magnitude quake and subsequent tsunami waves which destroyed roads, triggered landslides and downed bridges.

The Red Cross said the situation was "nightmarish" and reports from its workers venturing into one cut-off area, Donggala, a region of 300,000 people north of Palu and close to the epicentre, indicated it had been hit "extremely hard".

A particular horror in several areas in and around Palu was liquefaction, which happens when soil shaken by an earthquake behaves like a liquid.

About 1,700 houses in one neighbourhood were swallowed up, with hundreds of people believed buried, the national disaster agency said.

Meanwhile, Indonesia has also said that it would accept offers of international aid, having shunned outside help earlier this year when an earthquake struck the island of Lombok.

Also read:<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-offers-assistance-tsunami-hit-indonesia-168845"> PM Modi offers assistance to tsunami-hit Indonesia</a>

(With inputs from news agencies)

The death toll from powerful earthquakes and tsunami in Indonesia jumped to over a thousand people on Tuesday. According to news agency AFP, the death toll increased to 1,234 which was previously at 844 people.

The death toll from powerful earthquakes and tsunami in Indonesia jumped to over a thousand people on Tuesday. According to news agency AFP, the death toll increased to 1,234 which was previously at 844 people. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Indonesia was again struck by two quakes early in the morning, sending startled people into streets for safety. A shallow and moderately strong 5.9 quake struck at 2359 GMT, around 40 kilometres (25 miles) off Sumba, an island of some 750,000 people, the United States Geological Survey said. It was followed up some 15 minutes later by a stronger 6.2 magnitude quake in the same area at a depth of 30 kilometres. Indonesian President Joko Widodo has ordered the national search and rescue agency to send more police and soldiers into the affected districts as the rescuers struggle to reach some areas after they got cut off Friday's 7.5 magnitude quake and subsequent tsunami waves which destroyed roads, triggered landslides and downed bridges. The Red Cross said the situation was "nightmarish" and reports from its workers venturing into one cut-off area, Donggala, a region of 300,000 people north of Palu and close to the epicentre, indicated it had been hit "extremely hard". A particular horror in several areas in and around Palu was liquefaction, which happens when soil shaken by an earthquake behaves like a liquid. About 1,700 houses in one neighbourhood were swallowed up, with hundreds of people believed buried, the national disaster agency said. Meanwhile, Indonesia has also said that it would accept offers of international aid, having shunned outside help earlier this year when an earthquake struck the island of Lombok. Also read: PM Modi offers assistance to tsunami-hit Indonesia (With inputs from news agencies)

Video: Death toll after Indonesian earthquakes rises to 1,234, rescuers hold hope for survivors

Indonesian authorities scrambled on Monday to get aid and rescue equipment into quake-hit Sulawesi island, and prepared to bury some of the at least 832 dead, while the government said it would accept international help for disaster relief.

The confirmed toll of 832 dead looked certain to rise as rescuers slowly reached devastated outlying communities hit on Friday by a 7.5 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami waves as high as six metres (20 feet).

Dozens of people were reported to be trapped in the rubble of several hotels and a mall in the small city of Palu, 1,500 km (930 miles) northeast of Jakarta, with hundreds more feared buried in landslides that engulfed villages.

"Grieve for the people of Central Sulawesi, we all grieve together," President Joko Widodo said on Twitter late on Sunday.

Sulawesi is one of the earthquake-prone archipelago nation's five main islands and is known to sit astride fault lines.

The national search and rescue agency said one woman was rescued overnight in the neighbourhood of Balaroa, near Palu, where houses were swallowed up when the earthquake caused soil liquefaction.

Most of the confirmed deaths were in Palu, a city of 379,000 people, where authorities were preparing a mass grave to bury some of the dead as soon as they were identified.

But, nearly three days after the quake, the extent of the disaster has yet to be made clear with authorities bracing for the death toll to climb sharply - perhaps into the thousands - as connections with remote areas up and down the coast are restored.

Of particular concern is Donggala, a region of 300,000 people north of Palu and close to the epicentre of the quake, and two other districts, which have been cut off from communications since Friday.

Along with Palu, these districts have a combined population of about 1.4 million.

Five foreigners - three French, one South Korean and one Malaysian - were among the missing.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/indonesian-president-joko-widodo-visits-worst-hit-areas-earthquake-and-tsunami-168657">President Widodo visited a devastated housing complex </a>on Sunday and called for patience.

"I know there are many problems that need to be solved in a short time, including communications," he said.

The ruins would be rebuilt, Widodo said, as aftershocks rattled the region.

Fuel and rice

Footage of the ruined city of Palu showed a crumpled mess of houses, cars and trees mashed together, with rooftops and roads split asunder.

Officials say rescuers need heavy equipment to shift slabs of broken concrete but access to many areas has been hampered by damaged roads, landslides and collapsed bridges.

The state energy company said it was airlifting in 4,000 litres of fuel to help with the rescue effort, while the state logistics agency said it was preparing to send hundreds of tonnes of rice.

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said the government had allocated 560 billion rupiah ($37.58 million) for disaster recovery, media reported.

Indonesia, which sits on the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, is all too familiar with earthquakes and tsunamis. A quake off Sumatra island in 2004 triggered a tsunami across the Indian Ocean that killed 226,000 people in 13 countries, including more than 120,000 in Indonesia.

Questions are sure to be asked why warning systems set up after that disaster appear to have failed on Friday, and why more people in coastal areas had not moved to higher ground after a big quake, even in the absence of an official warning.

Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman for the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, told reporters on Sunday none of Indonesia's tsunami buoys, one type of instrument used to detect the waves, had been operating since 2012. He blamed a fall-off in funding.

The meteorological and geophysics agency BMKG issued a tsunami warning after the quake but lifted it 34 minutes later, drawing criticism it had been too hasty.

However, officials estimated the waves had hit while the warning was in force.

The head of Indonesia's investment board said on Twitter Widodo had agreed to accept international help and he would coordinate private sector help from around the world.

Neighbours including Australia, Thailand and China have offered help while the European Union announced 1.5 million euros ($1.74 million) in immediate aid.

Indonesian authorities scrambled on Monday to get aid and rescue equipment into quake-hit Sulawesi island, and prepared to bury some of the at least 832 dead, while the government said it would accept international help for disaster relief.

Indonesian authorities scrambled on Monday to get aid and rescue equipment into quake-hit Sulawesi island, and prepared to bury some of the at least 832 dead, while the government said it would accept international help for disaster relief. The confirmed toll of 832 dead looked certain to rise as rescuers slowly reached devastated outlying communities hit on Friday by a 7.5 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami waves as high as six metres (20 feet). Dozens of people were reported to be trapped in the rubble of several hotels and a mall in the small city of Palu, 1,500 km (930 miles) northeast of Jakarta, with hundreds more feared buried in landslides that engulfed villages. "Grieve for the people of Central Sulawesi, we all grieve together," President Joko Widodo said on Twitter late on Sunday. Sulawesi is one of the earthquake-prone archipelago nation's five main islands and is known to sit astride fault lines. The national search and rescue agency said one woman was rescued overnight in the neighbourhood of Balaroa, near Palu, where houses were swallowed up when the earthquake caused soil liquefaction. Most of the confirmed deaths were in Palu, a city of 379,000 people, where authorities were preparing a mass grave to bury some of the dead as soon as they were identified. But, nearly three days after the quake, the extent of the disaster has yet to be made clear with authorities bracing for the death toll to climb sharply - perhaps into the thousands - as connections with remote areas up and down the coast are restored. Of particular concern is Donggala, a region of 300,000 people north of Palu and close to the epicentre of the quake, and two other districts, which have been cut off from communications since Friday. Along with Palu, these districts have a combined population of about 1.4 million. Five foreigners - three French, one South Korean and one Malaysian - were among the missing. President Widodo visited a devastated housing complex on Sunday and called for patience. "I know there are many problems that need to be solved in a short time, including communications," he said. The ruins would be rebuilt, Widodo said, as aftershocks rattled the region. Fuel and rice Footage of the ruined city of Palu showed a crumpled mess of houses, cars and trees mashed together, with rooftops and roads split asunder. Officials say rescuers need heavy equipment to shift slabs of broken concrete but access to many areas has been hampered by damaged roads, landslides and collapsed bridges. The state energy company said it was airlifting in 4,000 litres of fuel to help with the rescue effort, while the state logistics agency said it was preparing to send hundreds of tonnes of rice. Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said the government had allocated 560 billion rupiah ($37.58 million) for disaster recovery, media reported. Indonesia, which sits on the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, is all too familiar with earthquakes and tsunamis. A quake off Sumatra island in 2004 triggered a tsunami across the Indian Ocean that killed 226,000 people in 13 countries, including more than 120,000 in Indonesia. Questions are sure to be asked why warning systems set up after that disaster appear to have failed on Friday, and why more people in coastal areas had not moved to higher ground after a big quake, even in the absence of an official warning. Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman for the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, told reporters on Sunday none of Indonesia's tsunami buoys, one type of instrument used to detect the waves, had been operating since 2012. He blamed a fall-off in funding. The meteorological and geophysics agency BMKG issued a tsunami warning after the quake but lifted it 34 minutes later, drawing criticism it had been too hasty. However, officials estimated the waves had hit while the warning was in force. The head of Indonesia's investment board said on Twitter Widodo had agreed to accept international help and he would coordinate private sector help from around the world. Neighbours including Australia, Thailand and China have offered help while the European Union announced 1.5 million euros ($1.74 million) in immediate aid.

Indonesia rushes to help quake-hit island, death toll likely to soar past 830

Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Sunday visited Palu, a coastal city on Sulawesi island, hit by a 7.5 magnitude earthquake that triggered a tsunami with waves as high as six metres (20 feet) two days ago.

The toll from the quake and tsunami soared on Sunday to 832 confirmed dead, with authorities fearing it will rise as rescuers struggle to reach outlying communities cut off from communication and help.

In front of media and local community members, Widodo said the government will ensure improvement to damaged facilities, heavy equipment delivery, fuel supply and better communication, so that the rehabilitation and reconstruction stages can begin immediately.

Reports are filtering in from outlying areas like Donggala, a region of 300,000 people north of Palu and closer to the epicentre of the quake, as well as two other districts.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla said the toll could rise into the thousands.

There were also concerns over the whereabouts of hundreds of people who had been preparing for a beach festival when the 7.5-magnitude quake struck Friday, sparking a tsunami that ripped apart the city’s coastline.

A Facebook page was created by worried relatives who posted pictures of still-missing family members in the hopes of finding them alive.

Amid the levelled trees, overturned cars, concertinaed homes and flotsam tossed up to 50 metres inland, survivors and rescuers struggled to come to grips with the scale of the disaster.

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 earthquake 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.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Sunday visited Palu, a coastal city on Sulawesi island, hit by a 7.5 magnitude earthquake that triggered a tsunami with waves as high as six metres (20 feet) two days ago.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Sunday visited Palu, a coastal city on Sulawesi island, hit by a 7.5 magnitude earthquake that triggered a tsunami with waves as high as six metres (20 feet) two days ago. The toll from the quake and tsunami soared on Sunday to 832 confirmed dead, with authorities fearing it will rise as rescuers struggle to reach outlying communities cut off from communication and help. In front of media and local community members, Widodo said the government will ensure improvement to damaged facilities, heavy equipment delivery, fuel supply and better communication, so that the rehabilitation and reconstruction stages can begin immediately. Reports are filtering in from outlying areas like Donggala, a region of 300,000 people north of Palu and closer to the epicentre of the quake, as well as two other districts. Vice President Jusuf Kalla said the toll could rise into the thousands. There were also concerns over the whereabouts of hundreds of people who had been preparing for a beach festival when the 7.5-magnitude quake struck Friday, sparking a tsunami that ripped apart the city’s coastline. A Facebook page was created by worried relatives who posted pictures of still-missing family members in the hopes of finding them alive. Amid the levelled trees, overturned cars, concertinaed homes and flotsam tossed up to 50 metres inland, survivors and rescuers struggled to come to grips with the scale of the disaster. 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 earthquake 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.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo visits worst hit areas of earthquake and tsunami

At least 384 people have been killed by a powerful earthquake and tsunami that hit the Indonesian city of Palu on Friday, officials said, with the death toll expected to rise.

With communications knocked out, relief officials have not been able to get any information from Donggala regency, an area north of Palu that is closer to the epicentre of the 7.5 magnitude quake.

In Palu, more than 16,000 people were evacuated after the disaster struck.

Here are some key facts about Palu and Donggala, on the island of Sulawesi:

- Palu is the capital of Central Sulawesi province, located at the end of a narrow bay on the west coast of Sulawesi island, with an estimated population of 379,800 in 2017. The city was celebrating its 40th anniversary when the quake and tsunami hit.

- Donggala is a regency stretching along more than 300 km (180 miles) of coastline in the northwest of Sulawesi island. The regency, an administrative region below a province, had an estimated population of 299,200 in 2017.

- Fishing and farming are the mainstays of the Central Sulawesi province`s economy, especially the coastal region of Donggala. Nickel mining is also important in the province, but is mostly concentrated in Morowali, on the opposite coast of Sulawesi.

- Palu and Donggala have been hit by tsunamis several times in the past 100 years, according to Indonesia`s Disaster Mitigation Agency. In 1938, a tsunami killed more than 200 people and destroyed hundreds of houses in Donggala. A tsunami also struck western Donggala in 1996, killing nine.&nbsp;

Indonesia sits on the seismically Pacific Ring of Fire and is regularly hit by earthquakes. Here are some of the major quakes and tsunamis in recent years: 
- 2004: A major quake on the western coast of Indonesia`s Aceh province in northern Sumatra on December 26 triggered a tsunami that struck 14 countries, killing 226,000 people along Indian Ocean coastline, more than half of them in Aceh.

- 2005: A series of strong quakes hit the western coast of Sumatra in late March and early April. Hundreds died in Nias Island, off the coast of Sumatra.

- 2006: A 6.8 magnitude hit south of Java, Indonesia`s most populated island, triggering a tsunami that smashed into the southern coast, killing nearly 700 people.&nbsp;

- 2009: A 7.6 magnitude quake struck near the city of Padang, capital of West Sumatra province. More than 1,100 people were killed.

- 2010: A 7.5 magnitude quake hit one of the Mentawai islands, off Sumatra, triggering up tsunami of up to 10 metres that destroyed dozens of villages and killed around 300 people.&nbsp;

- 2016: A shallow quake hit the Pidie Jaya regency in Aceh, causing destruction and panic as people were reminded by the devastation of the deadly 2004 quake and tsunami. No tsunami was triggered this time, but more than 100 were killed by fallen buildings.

- 2018: Major quakes hit Indonesia`s tourist island of Lombok, killing more than 500 people, mostly on the northern side of the island. The quake destroyed thousands of buildings and left thousands of tourists temporarily stranded.

At least 384 people have been killed by a powerful earthquake and tsunami that hit the Indonesian city of Palu on Friday, officials said, with the death toll expected to rise.

At least 384 people have been killed by a powerful earthquake and tsunami that hit the Indonesian city of Palu on Friday, officials said, with the death toll expected to rise. With communications knocked out, relief officials have not been able to get any information from Donggala regency, an area north of Palu that is closer to the epicentre of the 7.5 magnitude quake. In Palu, more than 16,000 people were evacuated after the disaster struck. Here are some key facts about Palu and Donggala, on the island of Sulawesi: - Palu is the capital of Central Sulawesi province, located at the end of a narrow bay on the west coast of Sulawesi island, with an estimated population of 379,800 in 2017. The city was celebrating its 40th anniversary when the quake and tsunami hit. - Donggala is a regency stretching along more than 300 km (180 miles) of coastline in the northwest of Sulawesi island. The regency, an administrative region below a province, had an estimated population of 299,200 in 2017. - Fishing and farming are the mainstays of the Central Sulawesi province`s economy, especially the coastal region of Donggala. Nickel mining is also important in the province, but is mostly concentrated in Morowali, on the opposite coast of Sulawesi. - Palu and Donggala have been hit by tsunamis several times in the past 100 years, according to Indonesia`s Disaster Mitigation Agency. In 1938, a tsunami killed more than 200 people and destroyed hundreds of houses in Donggala. A tsunami also struck western Donggala in 1996, killing nine. Indonesia sits on the seismically Pacific Ring of Fire and is regularly hit by earthquakes. Here are some of the major quakes and tsunamis in recent years: - 2004: A major quake on the western coast of Indonesia`s Aceh province in northern Sumatra on December 26 triggered a tsunami that struck 14 countries, killing 226,000 people along Indian Ocean coastline, more than half of them in Aceh. - 2005: A series of strong quakes hit the western coast of Sumatra in late March and early April. Hundreds died in Nias Island, off the coast of Sumatra. - 2006: A 6.8 magnitude hit south of Java, Indonesia`s most populated island, triggering a tsunami that smashed into the southern coast, killing nearly 700 people. - 2009: A 7.6 magnitude quake struck near the city of Padang, capital of West Sumatra province. More than 1,100 people were killed. - 2010: A 7.5 magnitude quake hit one of the Mentawai islands, off Sumatra, triggering up tsunami of up to 10 metres that destroyed dozens of villages and killed around 300 people. - 2016: A shallow quake hit the Pidie Jaya regency in Aceh, causing destruction and panic as people were reminded by the devastation of the deadly 2004 quake and tsunami. No tsunami was triggered this time, but more than 100 were killed by fallen buildings. - 2018: Major quakes hit Indonesia`s tourist island of Lombok, killing more than 500 people, mostly on the northern side of the island. The quake destroyed thousands of buildings and left thousands of tourists temporarily stranded.

Factbox: Earthquakes and tsunamis in Indonesia

WION Chat: Max Walden on Indonesia Tsunami and Earthquake

Over 40 people were killed after tsunami and earthquake hit a small city on Sulawesi island on Friday. 30 were reported dead at an Indonesian hospital, news agency Reuters reported.&nbsp;

The tsunami up to 2 metres (six feet) high struck beaches as dusk fell in Palu, a sleepy but growing tourist resort, and the nearby fishing town of Donggala, closest to the epicentre of the quake 27 km away, officials said.

Officials said aftershocks, communications breakdown and power outages made it hard to coordinate the rescue efforts.

The US Geological Survey put the magnitude of the second quake at a strong 7.5, after first saying it was 7.7.

"Bodies of victims were found in several places because they were hit by the rubble of collapsing buildings or swept by the tsunami ... but we are still collecting data," Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman said on Saturday.

National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Nugroho declined to give an official death toll, news agency Reuters reported.&nbsp;

The Palu area was hit by a lighter quake earlier on Friday, which destroyed some houses, killed one person and injured at least 10 in the fishing town of Donggala, closest to the epicentre, authorities said.

Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire and is regularly hit by earthquakes. Palu and Donggala regions of Indonesia are home to over&nbsp;600,000 people.

A series of earthquakes in July and August killed nearly 500 people on the holiday island of Lombok, hundreds of kilometres southwest of Sulawesi.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Over 40 people were killed after tsunami and earthquake hit a small city on Sulawesi island on Friday. 30 were reported dead at an Indonesian hospital, news agency Reuters reported.

Over 40 people were killed after tsunami and earthquake hit a small city on Sulawesi island on Friday. 30 were reported dead at an Indonesian hospital, news agency Reuters reported. The tsunami up to 2 metres (six feet) high struck beaches as dusk fell in Palu, a sleepy but growing tourist resort, and the nearby fishing town of Donggala, closest to the epicentre of the quake 27 km away, officials said. Officials said aftershocks, communications breakdown and power outages made it hard to coordinate the rescue efforts. The US Geological Survey put the magnitude of the second quake at a strong 7.5, after first saying it was 7.7. "Bodies of victims were found in several places because they were hit by the rubble of collapsing buildings or swept by the tsunami ... but we are still collecting data," Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman said on Saturday. National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Nugroho declined to give an official death toll, news agency Reuters reported. The Palu area was hit by a lighter quake earlier on Friday, which destroyed some houses, killed one person and injured at least 10 in the fishing town of Donggala, closest to the epicentre, authorities said. Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire and is regularly hit by earthquakes. Palu and Donggala regions of Indonesia are home to over 600,000 people. A series of earthquakes in July and August killed nearly 500 people on the holiday island of Lombok, hundreds of kilometres southwest of Sulawesi. (With inputs from agencies)

Quake, tsunami hit Indonesia's Sulawesi island, death toll mounts to 48

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/30-dead-after-quake-tsunami-hit-small-city-indonesian-island-sulawesi-168346">30 dead after </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/30-dead-after-quake-tsunami-hit-small-city-indonesian-island-sulawesi-168346">quake</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/30-dead-after-quake-tsunami-hit-small-city-indonesian-island-sulawesi-168346">, </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/30-dead-after-quake-tsunami-hit-small-city-indonesian-island-sulawesi-168346">tsunami</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/30-dead-after-quake-tsunami-hit-small-city-indonesian-island-sulawesi-168346"> hit Indonesia's Sulawesi island</a>

At least 30 people have been reported dead at an Indonesia hospital after Tsunami and earthquake hit a small city on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi on Friday.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-orders-fbi-probe-kavanaugh-senate-delays-final-vote-168336">Trump orders FBI probe of Kavanaugh as Senate delays </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-orders-fbi-probe-kavanaugh-senate-delays-final-vote-168336">final</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-orders-fbi-probe-kavanaugh-senate-delays-final-vote-168336"> vote</a>

US President Donald Trump ordered a new FBI investigation into sexual assault allegations against his Supreme Court pick Friday, as the Senate delayed a vote on Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to make way for the probe.

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Fuel prices in the national capital continued to rise on Saturday with petrol prices registering an increase of Rs 0.22 paise while diesel shot up by Rs 0.21 paise.

Petrol in Delhi today will be sold at Rs 83.40 per litre whereas diesel amounts to Rs 74.63 per litre.&nbsp;

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Prominent human rights lawyer Amal Clooney appealed to Aung San Suu Kyi on Friday over a pardon for two Reuters journalists imprisoned in Myanmar, saying the Nobel laureate held the key to their release.

30 dead after quake, tsunami hit Indonesia's Sulawesi island At least 30 people have been reported dead at an Indonesia hospital after Tsunami and earthquake hit a small city on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi on Friday.

30 dead after quake, tsunami hit Indonesia's Sulawesi island At least 30 people have been reported dead at an Indonesia hospital after Tsunami and earthquake hit a small city on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi on Friday. Trump orders FBI probe of Kavanaugh as Senate delays final vote US President Donald Trump ordered a new FBI investigation into sexual assault allegations against his Supreme Court pick Friday, as the Senate delayed a vote on Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to make way for the probe. Fuel prices continue to rise on fourth day this week, petrol jumps to Rs 83.40 in Delhi Fuel prices in the national capital continued to rise on Saturday with petrol prices registering an increase of Rs 0.22 paise while diesel shot up by Rs 0.21 paise. Petrol in Delhi today will be sold at Rs 83.40 per litre whereas diesel amounts to Rs 74.63 per litre. US President Donald Trump possible contender for 2018 Nobel Peace Prize? US President Donald Trump is a contender for this year's Nobel Peace Prize after holding a historical meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore on June 12, 2018 which ambitiously aimed to pave the way for the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney appeals to Suu Kyi for reporters' release Prominent human rights lawyer Amal Clooney appealed to Aung San Suu Kyi on Friday over a pardon for two Reuters journalists imprisoned in Myanmar, saying the Nobel laureate held the key to their release.

News brief: Big stories of the day

The death toll from Indonesia's quake and tsunami has jumped to 384, news agency AFP quoted Indonesia's disaster agency on Saturday.

So far, all the deaths have been reported from the tsunami-struck region of Palu, a day after waves 1.5 metres (five feet) high slammed into the city of 350,000 in central Sulawesi island.

The tsunami up to 2 metres (six feet) high struck beaches as dusk fell in Palu, a sleepy but growing tourist resort, and the nearby fishing town of Donggala, closest to the epicentre of the quake 27 km away, officials said.

Officials said aftershocks, communications breakdown and power outages made it hard to coordinate the rescue efforts.

The US Geological Survey put the magnitude of the second quake at a strong 7.5, after first saying it was 7.7.

"Bodies of victims were found in several places because they were hit by the rubble of collapsing buildings or swept by the tsunami ... but we are still collecting data," Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman said on Saturday.

National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Nugroho declined to give an official death toll, news agency Reuters reported.&nbsp;

The Palu area was hit by a lighter quake earlier on Friday, which destroyed some houses, killed one person and injured at least 10 in the fishing town of Donggala, closest to the epicentre, authorities said.

Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire and is regularly hit by earthquakes. Palu and Donggala regions of Indonesia are home to over 600,000 people.

A series of earthquakes in July and August killed nearly 500 people on the holiday island of Lombok, hundreds of kilometres southwest of Sulawesi.

According to reports, the hospital staff is struggling to cope with hundreds of injured and rescuers while rescuers scramble to reach the stricken region; more details are awaited.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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The death toll from Indonesia's quake and tsunami has jumped to 384, news agency AFP quoted Indonesia's disaster agency on Saturday. So far, all the deaths have been reported from the tsunami-struck region of Palu, a day after waves 1.

The death toll from Indonesia's quake and tsunami has jumped to 384, news agency AFP quoted Indonesia's disaster agency on Saturday. So far, all the deaths have been reported from the tsunami-struck region of Palu, a day after waves 1.5 metres (five feet) high slammed into the city of 350,000 in central Sulawesi island. The tsunami up to 2 metres (six feet) high struck beaches as dusk fell in Palu, a sleepy but growing tourist resort, and the nearby fishing town of Donggala, closest to the epicentre of the quake 27 km away, officials said. Officials said aftershocks, communications breakdown and power outages made it hard to coordinate the rescue efforts. The US Geological Survey put the magnitude of the second quake at a strong 7.5, after first saying it was 7.7. "Bodies of victims were found in several places because they were hit by the rubble of collapsing buildings or swept by the tsunami ... but we are still collecting data," Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman said on Saturday. National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Nugroho declined to give an official death toll, news agency Reuters reported. The Palu area was hit by a lighter quake earlier on Friday, which destroyed some houses, killed one person and injured at least 10 in the fishing town of Donggala, closest to the epicentre, authorities said. Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire and is regularly hit by earthquakes. Palu and Donggala regions of Indonesia are home to over 600,000 people. A series of earthquakes in July and August killed nearly 500 people on the holiday island of Lombok, hundreds of kilometres southwest of Sulawesi. According to reports, the hospital staff is struggling to cope with hundreds of injured and rescuers while rescuers scramble to reach the stricken region; more details are awaited. (With inputs from agencies) ×

Death toll jumps to 384 in quake, tsunami hit Indonesia: Report

A powerful earthquake hit central Indonesia on Friday, causing a tsunami that slammed into a city on Sulawesi island with officials saying the tremor had levelled "many" buildings.

The shallow <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/indonesia-rocked-75-magnitude-quake-tsunami-warning-issued-168167">7.5 magnitude quake</a> sparked terror among locals who fled into the streets and raced to higher ground fearing tsunami waves.

The disaster agency briefly issued a tsunami warning before lifting it.

But dramatic video footage filmed from the top floor of a parking ramp spiral in Palu, a city of 350,000 nearly 80 kilometres (50 miles) from the quake's epicentre, showed a churning wall of whitewater mow down several buildings and inundate a large mosque.

Rahmat Triyono, head of the agency's earthquake and tsunami division, later confirmed the city was struck by a freak wave.

People living hundreds of kilometres from the epicentre reported feeling the massive shake, hours after a smaller jolt killed at least one person in the same part of the Southeast Asian archipelago.

There were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries after the latest tremor, but it was a higher magnitude than a series of quakes that killed hundreds on the island of Lombok this summer.

The quake hit just off central Sulawesi at a shallow depth of some 10 kilometres just before 6:00 pm local time (1100 GMT), the US Geological Survey said.

"There are reports that many buildings collapsed in the earthquake," national disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said in a statement.&nbsp;

"Residents panicked and scattered out of their homes."

Pictures supplied by the agency showed a badly damaged shopping mall in Palu where at least one floor had collapsed onto the storey below.

Other pictures showed major damage to buildings, with rubble strewn about the road and large cracks running through pavements.

Facebook Live video showed long traffic jams formed in some parts of the region as terrified residents packed into cars, trucks and motorbikes to flee to higher ground following the tsunami warning.

Search and rescue teams have been dispatched to hard-hit areas, Nugroho said.

AFP phone calls to several regional hospitals went unanswered and Palu's main airport was closed around 7.30 pm local time, with authorities saying it would not open for 24 hours.

Friday's tremor was centred 78 kilometres north of Palu, the capital of Central Sulawesi province, but was felt in the far south of the island in its largest city Makassar and on the neighbouring island of Kalimantan, Indonesia's portion of Borneo island.

The initial tremor 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 would be especially busy.

It was followed by a series of powerful aftershocks, including one measuring 5.7 magnitude.

'Earthquake, earthquake!'

"I was about to start prayers but then I heard people shouting 'earthquake! earthquake!' so I stopped," Andi Temmaeli from Wajo, south of Palu, told AFP.

Lisa Soba Palloan, a resident of Toraja, also south of Palu, said locals felt several quakes Friday.

"The last one was quite big," she said.

"Everyone was getting out their homes, shouting in fear."

Quakes of similar magnitude can cause great damage to poorly built or designed structures, including the toppling of chimneys, columns and walls, according to USGS.

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.

This summer, a series of powerful quakes hit Lombok, killing more than 550 people on the holiday island and neighbouring Sumbawa.

Some 1,500 people were injured and about 400,000 residents were displaced after their homes were destroyed.

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 2004.

That quake triggered a tsunami that killed 220,000 throughout the region, including 168,000 in Indonesia.

The Boxing Day disaster was the world's third-biggest quake since 1900, and lifted the ocean floor in some places by 15 metres.

Indonesia's Aceh province was the hardest hit area, but the tsunami-affected coastal areas as far away as Africa.

Among the country's other big earthquakes, a 6.3-magnitude quake in 2006 rocked a densely populated region of Java near the city of Yogyakarta, killing around 6,000 people and injuring 38,000.

More than 420,000 people were left homeless and some 157,000 houses were destroyed.

A year earlier, in 2005, a quake measuring 8.7 magnitude struck off the coast of Sumatra, which is particularly prone to quakes, killing 900 people and injuring 6,000.

It caused widespread destruction on the western island of Nias.

A powerful earthquake hit central Indonesia on Friday, causing a tsunami that slammed into a city on Sulawesi island with officials saying the tremor had levelled "many" buildings.

A powerful earthquake hit central Indonesia on Friday, causing a tsunami that slammed into a city on Sulawesi island with officials saying the tremor had levelled "many" buildings. The shallow 7.5 magnitude quake sparked terror among locals who fled into the streets and raced to higher ground fearing tsunami waves. The disaster agency briefly issued a tsunami warning before lifting it. But dramatic video footage filmed from the top floor of a parking ramp spiral in Palu, a city of 350,000 nearly 80 kilometres (50 miles) from the quake's epicentre, showed a churning wall of whitewater mow down several buildings and inundate a large mosque. Rahmat Triyono, head of the agency's earthquake and tsunami division, later confirmed the city was struck by a freak wave. People living hundreds of kilometres from the epicentre reported feeling the massive shake, hours after a smaller jolt killed at least one person in the same part of the Southeast Asian archipelago. There were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries after the latest tremor, but it was a higher magnitude than a series of quakes that killed hundreds on the island of Lombok this summer. The quake hit just off central Sulawesi at a shallow depth of some 10 kilometres just before 6:00 pm local time (1100 GMT), the US Geological Survey said. "There are reports that many buildings collapsed in the earthquake," national disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said in a statement. "Residents panicked and scattered out of their homes." Pictures supplied by the agency showed a badly damaged shopping mall in Palu where at least one floor had collapsed onto the storey below. Other pictures showed major damage to buildings, with rubble strewn about the road and large cracks running through pavements. Facebook Live video showed long traffic jams formed in some parts of the region as terrified residents packed into cars, trucks and motorbikes to flee to higher ground following the tsunami warning. Search and rescue teams have been dispatched to hard-hit areas, Nugroho said. AFP phone calls to several regional hospitals went unanswered and Palu's main airport was closed around 7.30 pm local time, with authorities saying it would not open for 24 hours. Friday's tremor was centred 78 kilometres north of Palu, the capital of Central Sulawesi province, but was felt in the far south of the island in its largest city Makassar and on the neighbouring island of Kalimantan, Indonesia's portion of Borneo island. The initial tremor 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 would be especially busy. It was followed by a series of powerful aftershocks, including one measuring 5.7 magnitude. 'Earthquake, earthquake!' "I was about to start prayers but then I heard people shouting 'earthquake! earthquake!' so I stopped," Andi Temmaeli from Wajo, south of Palu, told AFP. Lisa Soba Palloan, a resident of Toraja, also south of Palu, said locals felt several quakes Friday. "The last one was quite big," she said. "Everyone was getting out their homes, shouting in fear." Quakes of similar magnitude can cause great damage to poorly built or designed structures, including the toppling of chimneys, columns and walls, according to USGS. 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. This summer, a series of powerful quakes hit Lombok, killing more than 550 people on the holiday island and neighbouring Sumbawa. Some 1,500 people were injured and about 400,000 residents were displaced after their homes were destroyed. 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 2004. That quake triggered a tsunami that killed 220,000 throughout the region, including 168,000 in Indonesia. The Boxing Day disaster was the world's third-biggest quake since 1900, and lifted the ocean floor in some places by 15 metres. Indonesia's Aceh province was the hardest hit area, but the tsunami-affected coastal areas as far away as Africa. Among the country's other big earthquakes, a 6.3-magnitude quake in 2006 rocked a densely populated region of Java near the city of Yogyakarta, killing around 6,000 people and injuring 38,000. More than 420,000 people were left homeless and some 157,000 houses were destroyed. A year earlier, in 2005, a quake measuring 8.7 magnitude struck off the coast of Sumatra, which is particularly prone to quakes, killing 900 people and injuring 6,000. It caused widespread destruction on the western island of Nias.

Indonesian city hit by tsunami after powerful quake

Indonesia on Friday was struck by a very strong 7.5 magnitude earthquake, news agency AFP reported citing US Geological Survey.

Following the strong quake, country's national disaster agency had briefly issued a tsunami warning before cancelling it.

The quake hit central Sulawesi island at a shallow depth of some 10 kilometres (six miles), just hours after a smaller quake killed at least one person in the same part of the country.

The US&nbsp;Geological Survey put the magnitude of the second quake at a strong 7.5, after first saying it was 7.7.

The earlier quake destroyed some houses, killing one person and injuring at least 10, authorities said.

Indonesia's disaster agency issued a tsunami warning for the west coast of Sulawesi and east coast of Indonesia's part of Borneo island.&nbsp;

People living&nbsp;in the shore areas have also been advised to move away from the coastline; news agency Reuters reported.

A series of earthquakes in July and August killed nearly 500 people on the holiday island of Lombok, hundreds of kilometres southwest of Sulawesi.

Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire and is regularly hit by earthquakes.

In 2004, a big earthquake off the northern Indonesian island of Sumatra triggered a tsunami across the Indian Ocean, killing 226,000 people in 13 countries, including more than 120,000 in Indonesia.

(With inputs from news agencies)

Indonesia on Friday was struck by a very strong 7.5 magnitude earthquake, news agency AFP reported citing US Geological Survey. Following the strong quake, country's national disaster agency had briefly issued a tsunami warning before cancelling it.

Indonesia on Friday was struck by a very strong 7.5 magnitude earthquake, news agency AFP reported citing US Geological Survey. Following the strong quake, country's national disaster agency had briefly issued a tsunami warning before cancelling it. The quake hit central Sulawesi island at a shallow depth of some 10 kilometres (six miles), just hours after a smaller quake killed at least one person in the same part of the country. The US Geological Survey put the magnitude of the second quake at a strong 7.5, after first saying it was 7.7. The earlier quake destroyed some houses, killing one person and injuring at least 10, authorities said. Indonesia's disaster agency issued a tsunami warning for the west coast of Sulawesi and east coast of Indonesia's part of Borneo island. People living in the shore areas have also been advised to move away from the coastline; news agency Reuters reported. A series of earthquakes in July and August killed nearly 500 people on the holiday island of Lombok, hundreds of kilometres southwest of Sulawesi. Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire and is regularly hit by earthquakes. In 2004, a big earthquake off the northern Indonesian island of Sumatra triggered a tsunami across the Indian Ocean, killing 226,000 people in 13 countries, including more than 120,000 in Indonesia. (With inputs from news agencies)

Indonesia rocked by 7.5 magnitude quake, tsunami warning called off

A moderate intensity earthquake was felt in Himachal Pradesh's Sirmaur district Monday afternoon, officials said.&nbsp;

No loss of life or property was reported.

"An earthquake measuring 3.7 was recorded at 2:22 pm Monday," said Director at Shimla Meteorological Centre Manmohan Singh.

The epicentre was 10 km northeast of Sirmaur, he said, adding that mild tremors were felt in the adjoining areas.

Most parts of Himachal fall in high seismic sensitive zone, he said.

A moderate intensity earthquake was felt in Himachal Pradesh's Sirmaur district Monday afternoon, officials said. No loss of life or property was reported. "An earthquake measuring 3.

A moderate intensity earthquake was felt in Himachal Pradesh's Sirmaur district Monday afternoon, officials said. No loss of life or property was reported. "An earthquake measuring 3.7 was recorded at 2:22 pm Monday," said Director at Shimla Meteorological Centre Manmohan Singh. The epicentre was 10 km northeast of Sirmaur, he said, adding that mild tremors were felt in the adjoining areas. Most parts of Himachal fall in high seismic sensitive zone, he said.

Moderate earthquake hits Himachal Pradesh

An earthquake measuring 4.0-magnitude on the Richter scale hit Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi on Thursday morning at 6:12 AM.

According to the India Meteorological Department, the earthquake originated at a depth of 10 km and had the latitude of 30.8 North and Longitude of 78.2 East.

Further details are currently awaited.

This comes after the Meteorological Centre, Dehradun had issued warnings of thunderstorm and rain in the state from June 13-17 on Wednesday.

Few places of the state are likely to experience light to moderate rain and thunderstorm on Thursday, while many places are likely to experience the same from June 15-17.

Earlier this month, the Badrinath National Highway was closed at two places due to minor landslides, followed by heavy rains in parts of Uttarakhand.

The earthquake originated at a depth of 10 km and had the latitude of 30.8 North and Longitude of 78.2 East

An earthquake measuring 4.0-magnitude on the Richter scale hit Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi on Thursday morning at 6:12 AM. According to the India Meteorological Department, the earthquake originated at a depth of 10 km and had the latitude of 30.8 North and Longitude of 78.2 East. Further details are currently awaited. This comes after the Meteorological Centre, Dehradun had issued warnings of thunderstorm and rain in the state from June 13-17 on Wednesday. Few places of the state are likely to experience light to moderate rain and thunderstorm on Thursday, while many places are likely to experience the same from June 15-17. Earlier this month, the Badrinath National Highway was closed at two places due to minor landslides, followed by heavy rains in parts of Uttarakhand.

4.0-earthquake hits Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi

An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.0 struck off the Indonesian island of Sumatra on Wednesday, the U.S. Geological Survey said, but there were no initial reports of damage or injury.

The shallow quake struck 246 km (152 miles) southwest of Padang on Sumatra, the USGS said. There was no immediate warning from the Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

The quake was later downgraded to 5.8 by the USGS.

The shallow quake struck 246 km (152 miles) southwest of Padang on Sumatra, the USGS said

An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.0 struck off the Indonesian island of Sumatra on Wednesday, the U.S. Geological Survey said, but there were no initial reports of damage or injury. The shallow quake struck 246 km (152 miles) southwest of Padang on Sumatra, the USGS said. There was no immediate warning from the Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. The quake was later downgraded to 5.8 by the USGS.

Quake with magnitude of 6.0 strikes off Indonesia's Sumatra

Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement U Win Myat Aye said frequent earthquakes in 2018 have become a challenge for Myanmar adding that it should be addressed seriously.

"Earthquakes have become a challenge that must be seriously addressed in Myanmar," The Myanmar Times quoted Aye as saying.

Myanmar was hit by 31 earthquakes in January, 13 in February, 11 in March and 20 in April. The magnitude of earthquakes ranged from three to six on the Richter scale.

Awareness talks and preparedness rehearsals are being conducted throughout the, he added.

The major earthquakes of Myanmar include the Tarlay quake in March 2011, the Thabeikyin quake in November 2012, the Thabeikyin quake in April 2016 and the Chauk quake in August 2016.

Awareness talks and preparedness rehearsals are being conducted throughout

Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement U Win Myat Aye said frequent earthquakes in 2018 have become a challenge for Myanmar adding that it should be addressed seriously. "Earthquakes have become a challenge that must be seriously addressed in Myanmar," The Myanmar Times quoted Aye as saying. Myanmar was hit by 31 earthquakes in January, 13 in February, 11 in March and 20 in April. The magnitude of earthquakes ranged from three to six on the Richter scale. Awareness talks and preparedness rehearsals are being conducted throughout the, he added. The major earthquakes of Myanmar include the Tarlay quake in March 2011, the Thabeikyin quake in November 2012, the Thabeikyin quake in April 2016 and the Chauk quake in August 2016.

Myanmar minister calls for earthquake readiness

Authorities urged people in Hawaii&nbsp;Wednesday&nbsp;to evacuate an area at risk of being cut off by a flood of lava from the erupting Kilauea volcano.

"Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports that lava from several fissures continues to advance toward the Kapoho area," a Civil Defense message said, referencing an area that was devastated during a 1960 eruption.

"Residents of Kapoho Beach Lots and Vacationland are advised to evacuate. You are at risk of being isolated due to possible lava inundation," the message added.

Authorities had earlier advised that lava flow from Fissure 8 had blocked a major highway and caused an electricity blackout, and recommended evacuations of other nearby areas as telephone communications were cut.

Meanwhile, a 4.5 magnitude earthquake with an epicenter at Kilauea itself was recorded&nbsp;on Wednesday&nbsp;at&nbsp;11:00 am&nbsp;(0000 GMT).

Although it was felt strongly in the area, authorities dismissed the possibility of a tsunami.

Local authorities could not confirm to AFP how many people would be evacuated. Around 2,000 residents have already abandoned their homes as a result of the eruption, which has destroyed 71 houses so far.

The lava has engulfed an area of approximately 9.5 square kilometers, with the majority ending up in the ocean, creating so-called "laze" -- acid fumes created when lava meets water.

Kilauea is one of five volcanoes on Hawaii's Big Island.

Scientists believe that volcanic activity can be a precursor to a major eruption, similar to the Kilauea eruption in the mid-1920s.

Authorities had earlier advised that lava flow from Fissure 8 had blocked a major highway and caused an electricity blackout, and recommended evacuations of other nearby areas as telephone communications were cut

Authorities urged people in Hawaii Wednesday to evacuate an area at risk of being cut off by a flood of lava from the erupting Kilauea volcano. "Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports that lava from several fissures continues to advance toward the Kapoho area," a Civil Defense message said, referencing an area that was devastated during a 1960 eruption. "Residents of Kapoho Beach Lots and Vacationland are advised to evacuate. You are at risk of being isolated due to possible lava inundation," the message added. Authorities had earlier advised that lava flow from Fissure 8 had blocked a major highway and caused an electricity blackout, and recommended evacuations of other nearby areas as telephone communications were cut. Meanwhile, a 4.5 magnitude earthquake with an epicenter at Kilauea itself was recorded on Wednesday at 11:00 am (0000 GMT). Although it was felt strongly in the area, authorities dismissed the possibility of a tsunami. Local authorities could not confirm to AFP how many people would be evacuated. Around 2,000 residents have already abandoned their homes as a result of the eruption, which has destroyed 71 houses so far. The lava has engulfed an area of approximately 9.5 square kilometers, with the majority ending up in the ocean, creating so-called "laze" -- acid fumes created when lava meets water. Kilauea is one of five volcanoes on Hawaii's Big Island. Scientists believe that volcanic activity can be a precursor to a major eruption, similar to the Kilauea eruption in the mid-1920s.

Evacuations urged in Hawaii as lava flow advances

Local government workers have been carrying out relief work to assess damage and relocate residents in northeast China's Jilin Province after a 5.7-magnitude earthquake hit Songyuan City early on Monday morning.

No casualties have been reported after the quake struck the city's Ningjiang District at 01:50, local authorities said at a press briefing held on Monday evening.

So far, more than 10,000 houses in Ningjiang have reported damage, according to the local government.

Government workers are checking for any potential safety hazards in infrastructure facilities, such as reservoirs, dikes, and pipelines, as well as in chemical businesses. No dangers have been found during their checks so far.

All quake-affected residents have been safely evacuated, with a total of 90 tents, 200 beds, 70 quilts, 500 boxes of drinking water, and basic food supplies sent to the quake zone.

In the epicenter in Yamutu Village, local people may have to reside in temporary accommodation until new housing is constructed.

The local government has cordoned off damaged buildings to guarantee the safety of villagers in case of any aftershocks or a secondary disaster.

Over 300 houses in the nearby Qianguo County also sustained damage during the earthquake, with residents evacuated to safe regions.

The local government will speed up its assessment of damaged buildings and will aim to begin the reconstruction work as soon as possible, authorities said.

Government workers are checking for any potential safety hazards in infrastructure facilities, such as reservoirs, dikes, and pipelines, as well as in chemical businesses.

Local government workers have been carrying out relief work to assess damage and relocate residents in northeast China's Jilin Province after a 5.7-magnitude earthquake hit Songyuan City early on Monday morning. No casualties have been reported after the quake struck the city's Ningjiang District at 01:50, local authorities said at a press briefing held on Monday evening. So far, more than 10,000 houses in Ningjiang have reported damage, according to the local government. Government workers are checking for any potential safety hazards in infrastructure facilities, such as reservoirs, dikes, and pipelines, as well as in chemical businesses. No dangers have been found during their checks so far. All quake-affected residents have been safely evacuated, with a total of 90 tents, 200 beds, 70 quilts, 500 boxes of drinking water, and basic food supplies sent to the quake zone. In the epicenter in Yamutu Village, local people may have to reside in temporary accommodation until new housing is constructed. The local government has cordoned off damaged buildings to guarantee the safety of villagers in case of any aftershocks or a secondary disaster. Over 300 houses in the nearby Qianguo County also sustained damage during the earthquake, with residents evacuated to safe regions. The local government will speed up its assessment of damaged buildings and will aim to begin the reconstruction work as soon as possible, authorities said.

Relief work continues in quake-hit northeast China

Over 1,600 houses were reported damaged following a 5.7-magnitude earthquake which hit northeast&nbsp;China's Songyuan City in the early hours of Monday.

The earthquake which took place at around 01:50 Beijing time forced local residents to evacuate their houses almost immediately.

Preliminary reports released by 06:00 Monday indicated the severity of damages, including more than 200 houses near the epicenter in Ningjiang District being badly hit.

By 08:00, more than 100 aftershocks under a magnitude level of two were detected.

As the authorities prepare to build temporary camps, the locals have been asked to stay with their relatives until further notice.

Farmers in Yamutu village also discovered deep holes in different parts of their rice fields – a phenomenon known as sand liquefaction, which is often triggered by an earthquake.

Currently, no casualties have been reported and relief supplies are being transported to quake-hit areas.

The earthquake which took place at around 01:50 Beijing time forced local residents to evacuate their houses almost immediately

Over 1,600 houses were reported damaged following a 5.7-magnitude earthquake which hit northeast China's Songyuan City in the early hours of Monday. The earthquake which took place at around 01:50 Beijing time forced local residents to evacuate their houses almost immediately. Preliminary reports released by 06:00 Monday indicated the severity of damages, including more than 200 houses near the epicenter in Ningjiang District being badly hit. By 08:00, more than 100 aftershocks under a magnitude level of two were detected. As the authorities prepare to build temporary camps, the locals have been asked to stay with their relatives until further notice. Farmers in Yamutu village also discovered deep holes in different parts of their rice fields – a phenomenon known as sand liquefaction, which is often triggered by an earthquake. Currently, no casualties have been reported and relief supplies are being transported to quake-hit areas.

Watch: Earthquake in Northeast China damages 1,600 houses

A magnitude 5.1 earthquake hit central Japan on Saturday morning but no tsunami is expected, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

Police said they have heard no reports of damage or casualties.

The quake's epicentre was in northern Nagano prefecture in central Japan, and tremor occurred at around 10:29 a.m. (0129 GMT) at a depth of around 10 km (6 miles), the weather agency said.

No abnormalities have been observed at Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings' (TEPCO) Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in neighboring Niigata prefecture, public broadcaster NHK quoted the electric utilities as saying.

There have been no information on casualties or damages yet

A magnitude 5.1 earthquake hit central Japan on Saturday morning but no tsunami is expected, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. Police said they have heard no reports of damage or casualties. The quake's epicentre was in northern Nagano prefecture in central Japan, and tremor occurred at around 10:29 a.m. (0129 GMT) at a depth of around 10 km (6 miles), the weather agency said. No abnormalities have been observed at Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings' (TEPCO) Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in neighboring Niigata prefecture, public broadcaster NHK quoted the electric utilities as saying.

Magnitude 5.1 earthquake hits central Japan, no tsunami

An earthquake measuring 6.2 magnitude&nbsp;hit the central Asian nation of Tajikistan, in its mountainous border region near Afghanistan on Wednesday.

The tremors were felt in&nbsp;various parts of north India, including Kashmir and the Delhi-NCR region.&nbsp;

No casualties have been reported as yet.&nbsp;

This is a developing story. More details awaited.

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Earthquake tremors felt in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kashmir?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kashmir</a> Valley. More details awaited. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JammuAndKashmir?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JammuAndKashmir</a>
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The epicentre of the earthquake was located in Afghanistan's Hindu Kush region. No casualties have been reported so far

An earthquake measuring 6.2 magnitude hit the central Asian nation of Tajikistan, in its mountainous border region near Afghanistan on Wednesday. The tremors were felt in various parts of north India, including Kashmir and the Delhi-NCR region. No casualties have been reported as yet. This is a developing story. More details awaited. Earthquake tremors felt in #Kashmir Valley. More details awaited. #JammuAndKashmir — ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2018 ×

6.2 earthquake hits Tajikistan, tremors felt in Delhi-NCR

A strong earthquake rattled parts of Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on Wednesday.

The quake measured with a preliminary magnitude of 5.8, struck around 8: 25 AM and was felt for 15 to 20 seconds.

Earthquake tremors were felt in parts of Peshawar, Nowshera, and Kohat, along with Swat, Malakand division, Manshera, Dera Ismail Khan, Swat, Abbottabad, and Mardan.

Earthquake tremors were felt in parts of Peshawar, Nowshera, and Kohat, along with Swat, Malakand division, Manshera, Dera Ismail Khan, Swat, Abbottabad, and Mardan.

A strong earthquake rattled parts of Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on Wednesday. The quake measured with a preliminary magnitude of 5.8, struck around 8: 25 AM and was felt for 15 to 20 seconds. Earthquake tremors were felt in parts of Peshawar, Nowshera, and Kohat, along with Swat, Malakand division, Manshera, Dera Ismail Khan, Swat, Abbottabad, and Mardan.

Strong 5.8-magnitude earthquake rattles Pakistan's Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Lava spewing in fountains up to 300 feet (90 meters) high from an erupting Hawaiian volcano has destroyed 35 homes and other buildings, officials said on Monday, warning residents allowed brief visits to their properties to be prepared to flee at a moment's notice.

Many of the 1,700 people under orders to evacuate from the Leilani Estates neighbourhood on the eastern side of the Big Island were permitted to return home during daylight hours on Sunday and Monday, during a lull in seismic activity from Kilauea.

"Be prepared to evacuate at a moment's notice," the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency said in an alert on its website. Residents of a second area, Lanipuna Gardens, were barred from returning home on Monday due to deadly volcanic gases.

Leilani Estates, some 12 miles (19 km) from the volcano, was evacuated due to the risk of sulphur dioxide gas, which can be life threatening at high levels.

"Please, the residents of Leilani need our help. This is not the time for sightseeing. You can help tremendously by staying out of the area," the agency said.

Kilauea, which began exploding on Thursday with fountains and rivers of lava flowing into neighbourhoods, has opened 10 volcanic vents since then, officials said. Lava was not flowing from any of the vents on Monday.

So far, no deaths or major injuries have been reported, but the civil defence agency said at least 35 structures had been destroyed, many of them homes.

The southeast corner of the island was rocked by a powerful magnitude 6.9 earthquake on the volcano's south flank on Friday, the strongest tremor since 1975, and more earthquakes and eruptions have been forecast, perhaps for months to come.

Kilauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes and one of five on the island, has been in constant eruption for 35 years. It predominantly blows off basaltic lava in effusive eruptions that flow into the ocean but occasionally experiences more explosive events.

"It's been a bit of a chaotic week, a very stressful situation. It's one of those hopeless, helpless outlooks. It's hard to explain but the lava is right behind my house and it's pretty surreal," Leilani Estates homeowner Jared McManus told Reuters.

The Hawaii Star-Advertiser newspaper reported that a Hawaii-based utility, Puna Geothermal Venture, had 60,000 gallons (227,124 litres) of flammable pentane gas stored in the area that could not be removed until containers were delivered.

Some area residents returned for pets, medications and to check property on Sunday and Monday. Jeremy Wilson found his home surrounded by fissures hundreds of feet(dozens of metres) long.

"My house is right in the middle," said Wilson, a 36-year-old social worker who turned back when he saw steam coming from cracks in the road.

The semi-rural wooded area had become a magnet for newcomers to the Big Island of Hawaii, home to about 200,000 people, who were prepared to risk living near an active volcano for more affordable real estate.

Jessica Gauthier, 47, said she and other local real estate agents had seen vacation renters cancel their reservations, though the volcanic activity is far from tourist centres.

"There's no way to know that if you're sitting in your living room in Ohio and watching the national news," she said.

Hawaii's 4,028-square-mile (10,432-square-km) Big Island accounts for less than a fifth of the state's tourism. State data show that in the first three months of 2018, 16 percent of the $4.81 billion visitors spent in Hawaii came from the Big Island, less than half of the levels seen in Oahu and Maui.

Gauthier predicted tourism would pick back up as a new kind of visitor began to appear.

"Within a month we'll start getting lava tourists," she said.

Kilauea, which began exploding on Thursday with fountains and rivers of lava flowing into neighbourhoods, has opened 10 volcanic vents since then, officials said

Lava spewing in fountains up to 300 feet (90 meters) high from an erupting Hawaiian volcano has destroyed 35 homes and other buildings, officials said on Monday, warning residents allowed brief visits to their properties to be prepared to flee at a moment's notice. Many of the 1,700 people under orders to evacuate from the Leilani Estates neighbourhood on the eastern side of the Big Island were permitted to return home during daylight hours on Sunday and Monday, during a lull in seismic activity from Kilauea. "Be prepared to evacuate at a moment's notice," the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency said in an alert on its website. Residents of a second area, Lanipuna Gardens, were barred from returning home on Monday due to deadly volcanic gases. Leilani Estates, some 12 miles (19 km) from the volcano, was evacuated due to the risk of sulphur dioxide gas, which can be life threatening at high levels. "Please, the residents of Leilani need our help. This is not the time for sightseeing. You can help tremendously by staying out of the area," the agency said. Kilauea, which began exploding on Thursday with fountains and rivers of lava flowing into neighbourhoods, has opened 10 volcanic vents since then, officials said. Lava was not flowing from any of the vents on Monday. So far, no deaths or major injuries have been reported, but the civil defence agency said at least 35 structures had been destroyed, many of them homes. The southeast corner of the island was rocked by a powerful magnitude 6.9 earthquake on the volcano's south flank on Friday, the strongest tremor since 1975, and more earthquakes and eruptions have been forecast, perhaps for months to come. Kilauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes and one of five on the island, has been in constant eruption for 35 years. It predominantly blows off basaltic lava in effusive eruptions that flow into the ocean but occasionally experiences more explosive events. "It's been a bit of a chaotic week, a very stressful situation. It's one of those hopeless, helpless outlooks. It's hard to explain but the lava is right behind my house and it's pretty surreal," Leilani Estates homeowner Jared McManus told Reuters. The Hawaii Star-Advertiser newspaper reported that a Hawaii-based utility, Puna Geothermal Venture, had 60,000 gallons (227,124 litres) of flammable pentane gas stored in the area that could not be removed until containers were delivered. Some area residents returned for pets, medications and to check property on Sunday and Monday. Jeremy Wilson found his home surrounded by fissures hundreds of feet(dozens of metres) long. "My house is right in the middle," said Wilson, a 36-year-old social worker who turned back when he saw steam coming from cracks in the road. The semi-rural wooded area had become a magnet for newcomers to the Big Island of Hawaii, home to about 200,000 people, who were prepared to risk living near an active volcano for more affordable real estate. Jessica Gauthier, 47, said she and other local real estate agents had seen vacation renters cancel their reservations, though the volcanic activity is far from tourist centres. "There's no way to know that if you're sitting in your living room in Ohio and watching the national news," she said. Hawaii's 4,028-square-mile (10,432-square-km) Big Island accounts for less than a fifth of the state's tourism. State data show that in the first three months of 2018, 16 percent of the $4.81 billion visitors spent in Hawaii came from the Big Island, less than half of the levels seen in Oahu and Maui. Gauthier predicted tourism would pick back up as a new kind of visitor began to appear. "Within a month we'll start getting lava tourists," she said.

Hawaiians brave volcanic gases, lava to retrieve pets, belongings

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