Indonesia on Tuesday stepped up a search for an airliner that plunged into the sea with all 189 aboard feared dead, deploying underwater beacons to trace its black box recorders and uncover why an almost-new plane crashed minutes after take-off.

Indonesia, one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets, has a patchy safety record. With the now almost certain prospect of all on board having died, the crash is set to rank as the country's second-worst air disaster.

Ground staff lost contact with flight JT610 of budget airline Lion Air 13 minutes after the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft took off early on Monday from the airport in Jakarta, the capital, on its way to Indonesia's tin-mining region.

"Hopefully this morning we can find the wreckage or fuselage," Soerjanto Tjahjono, the head of a national transport safety panel, told Reuters, adding that an underwater acoustic beacon was deployed to locate the main body of the plane.

The search and rescue agency added that four sonar detectors were also being used in areas where aircraft debris was found a day earlier off the shore of Karawang, West Java, and 15 vessels were scouring the sea surface.

A helicopter circled over five rubber boats carrying about 36 rescuers, as some donned rubber suits, readying to dive.

Earlier, however, Yusuf Latif, the spokesman of the national search and rescue agency, had said finding survivors "would be a miracle", judging by the condition of the recovered debris and body parts.

In a statement, Lion Air said human remains were collected in 24 body bags after sweeps of the site of the crash, in waters about 30 to 35 metres (98 to 115 ft) deep roughly 15 km (nine miles) off the coast to the northeast of Jakarta.

The bags were taken to a hospital for identification, with more expected overnight, authorities told broadcaster Metro TV.

On tarpaulins at Jakarta's port, officers laid out items retrieved from the sea, ranging from oxygen bottles to personal effects such as wallets, a mobile telephone, cash and backpacks.

Although searchers halted efforts overnight, sonar vessels and an underwater drone kept up the hunt for the wreckage, where many victims were feared trapped, officials said.

A witness in Karawang said he had heard an explosion from the beach around the time the aircraft went down.

"I thought it was thunder, but it was different from thunder - 'Boom!' - It was loud," said Dadang Hambali.

On Monday, the US&nbsp;National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Boeing Co said they were providing assistance in the crash investigation.

(For details of search, crash inquiry, please click on)

The accident is the first to be reported involving the widely sold Boeing 737 MAX, an updated, more fuel-efficient version of the manufacturer's workhorse single-aisle jet.

Privately owned Lion Air, founded in 1999, said the aircraft, which had been in operation since August, was airworthy, with its pilot and co-pilot together having amassed 11,000 hours of flying time.

The pilot of flight JT610, which was bound for Pangkal Pinang in the Bangka-Belitung tin-mining region, had asked to return to base (RTB) shortly after take-off about 6.20 a.m., with landing set for 7.20 a.m. in the city of Pangkal Pinang.

"An RTB was requested and had been approved but we're still trying to figure out the reason," Tjahjono told reporters on Monday.

No distress signal was received from the aircraft's emergency transmitter, search and rescue agency head Muhmmad Syaugi told a news conference.

The aircraft suffered a technical problem on a flight from the resort island of Bali to Jakarta on Sunday night but it was "resolved according to procedure", Edward Sirait, chief executive of Lion Air Group, told reporters.

Sirait declined to specify the nature of the issue but said none of the airline's other aircraft of that model had the same problem. Lion had operated 11 Boeing 737 MAX 8s and it had no plan to ground the rest of them, he said.

Indonesia's worst air disaster was in 1997, when a Garuda Indonesia A300 crashed in the city of Medan, killing 234 people.

Indonesia on Tuesday stepped up a search for an airliner that plunged into the sea with all 189 aboard feared dead, deploying underwater beacons to trace its black box recorders and uncover why an almost-new plane crashed minutes after take-off.

Indonesia on Tuesday stepped up a search for an airliner that plunged into the sea with all 189 aboard feared dead, deploying underwater beacons to trace its black box recorders and uncover why an almost-new plane crashed minutes after take-off. Indonesia, one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets, has a patchy safety record. With the now almost certain prospect of all on board having died, the crash is set to rank as the country's second-worst air disaster. Ground staff lost contact with flight JT610 of budget airline Lion Air 13 minutes after the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft took off early on Monday from the airport in Jakarta, the capital, on its way to Indonesia's tin-mining region. "Hopefully this morning we can find the wreckage or fuselage," Soerjanto Tjahjono, the head of a national transport safety panel, told Reuters, adding that an underwater acoustic beacon was deployed to locate the main body of the plane. The search and rescue agency added that four sonar detectors were also being used in areas where aircraft debris was found a day earlier off the shore of Karawang, West Java, and 15 vessels were scouring the sea surface. A helicopter circled over five rubber boats carrying about 36 rescuers, as some donned rubber suits, readying to dive. Earlier, however, Yusuf Latif, the spokesman of the national search and rescue agency, had said finding survivors "would be a miracle", judging by the condition of the recovered debris and body parts. In a statement, Lion Air said human remains were collected in 24 body bags after sweeps of the site of the crash, in waters about 30 to 35 metres (98 to 115 ft) deep roughly 15 km (nine miles) off the coast to the northeast of Jakarta. The bags were taken to a hospital for identification, with more expected overnight, authorities told broadcaster Metro TV. On tarpaulins at Jakarta's port, officers laid out items retrieved from the sea, ranging from oxygen bottles to personal effects such as wallets, a mobile telephone, cash and backpacks. Although searchers halted efforts overnight, sonar vessels and an underwater drone kept up the hunt for the wreckage, where many victims were feared trapped, officials said. A witness in Karawang said he had heard an explosion from the beach around the time the aircraft went down. "I thought it was thunder, but it was different from thunder - 'Boom!' - It was loud," said Dadang Hambali. On Monday, the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Boeing Co said they were providing assistance in the crash investigation. (For details of search, crash inquiry, please click on) The accident is the first to be reported involving the widely sold Boeing 737 MAX, an updated, more fuel-efficient version of the manufacturer's workhorse single-aisle jet. Privately owned Lion Air, founded in 1999, said the aircraft, which had been in operation since August, was airworthy, with its pilot and co-pilot together having amassed 11,000 hours of flying time. The pilot of flight JT610, which was bound for Pangkal Pinang in the Bangka-Belitung tin-mining region, had asked to return to base (RTB) shortly after take-off about 6.20 a.m., with landing set for 7.20 a.m. in the city of Pangkal Pinang. "An RTB was requested and had been approved but we're still trying to figure out the reason," Tjahjono told reporters on Monday. No distress signal was received from the aircraft's emergency transmitter, search and rescue agency head Muhmmad Syaugi told a news conference. The aircraft suffered a technical problem on a flight from the resort island of Bali to Jakarta on Sunday night but it was "resolved according to procedure", Edward Sirait, chief executive of Lion Air Group, told reporters. Sirait declined to specify the nature of the issue but said none of the airline's other aircraft of that model had the same problem. Lion had operated 11 Boeing 737 MAX 8s and it had no plan to ground the rest of them, he said. Indonesia's worst air disaster was in 1997, when a Garuda Indonesia A300 crashed in the city of Medan, killing 234 people.

Indonesia hunts for victims, wreckage of air crash; survivors seem unlikely

An Indonesian Lion Air passenger plane which&nbsp;had gone missing on Monday morning has crashed into sea off the Indonesia coast, the Indonesian search and rescue agency reported.&nbsp;

"The plane crashed into water about 30 to 40 metres deep,"&nbsp;Search and Rescue Agency spokesman Yusuf Latif told AFP. "We're still searching for the remains of the plane."

The Lion Air flight, JT610, went missing 13 minutes after it took off from the Indonesian capital Jakarta.&nbsp;Air Traffic control lost contact with the plane at 6.33 am.

The plane was flying to Pangkal Pinang.&nbsp;There were 188 people on board.&nbsp;

Flight JT610 took off around 6:20 am&nbsp;and was due to land in the capital of the Bangka-Belitung tin mining region at 7:20 am, the Flightradar 24 website showed.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/plane-carrying-9-people-missing-in-eastern-indonesia-158469">Plane carrying 9 people missing in eastern Indonesia</a>

Debris thought to be from the plane, including aircraft seats, was found near an offshore refining facility, an official of state energy firm Pertamina said.

Wreckage had been found near where the Lion Air plane lost contact with air traffic officials on the ground, said Muhmmad Syaugi, the head of the search and rescue agency.

Preliminary flight tracking data from Flightradar24 shows the aircraft climbed to around 5,000 feet (1,524 m) before losing, and then regaining, height, before finally falling towards the sea.

It was last recorded at 3,650 feet (1,113 m) and its speed had risen to 345 knots, according to raw data captured by the respected tracking website, which could not immediately be confirmed.

An Indonesian Lion Air passenger plane which had gone missing on Monday morning has crashed into sea off the Indonesia coast, the Indonesian search and rescue agency reported.

An Indonesian Lion Air passenger plane which had gone missing on Monday morning has crashed into sea off the Indonesia coast, the Indonesian search and rescue agency reported. "The plane crashed into water about 30 to 40 metres deep," Search and Rescue Agency spokesman Yusuf Latif told AFP. "We're still searching for the remains of the plane." The Lion Air flight, JT610, went missing 13 minutes after it took off from the Indonesian capital Jakarta. Air Traffic control lost contact with the plane at 6.33 am. The plane was flying to Pangkal Pinang. There were 188 people on board. Flight JT610 took off around 6:20 am and was due to land in the capital of the Bangka-Belitung tin mining region at 7:20 am, the Flightradar 24 website showed. Also read: Plane carrying 9 people missing in eastern Indonesia Debris thought to be from the plane, including aircraft seats, was found near an offshore refining facility, an official of state energy firm Pertamina said. Wreckage had been found near where the Lion Air plane lost contact with air traffic officials on the ground, said Muhmmad Syaugi, the head of the search and rescue agency. Preliminary flight tracking data from Flightradar24 shows the aircraft climbed to around 5,000 feet (1,524 m) before losing, and then regaining, height, before finally falling towards the sea. It was last recorded at 3,650 feet (1,113 m) and its speed had risen to 345 knots, according to raw data captured by the respected tracking website, which could not immediately be confirmed.

Video: Lion Air plane with 188 on board crashes off Indonesia coast

On Monday, a&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/indonesian-lion-air-passenger-plane-goes-missing-official-174088">Lion Air plane</a>&nbsp;with 188 passengers on board crashed into the sea off the island of Sumatra.&nbsp;Lion Air is a low-cost Indonesian airline.&nbsp;

Indonesian airlines have some of the worst safety records in the world, and Monday's crash was the latest in a long line of crashes of planes owned by Indonesian carriers:&nbsp;

In 2007 all Indonesian carriers were placed on the EU Air Safety List, a blacklist of airlines that fall short of the EU's international safety standards - which was lifted earlier this year.

In 2015, Indonesia's aviation industry had more airlines with the lowest safety ranking than any other country in the world according to an annual survey conducted by plane safety rating website AirlineRatings.com.

Indonesia relies heavily on air transport to connect its thousands of islands but the archipelago has seen a string of high profile aviation accidents in recent years.&nbsp;

The country's unique geography has forced a boom in airlines that serve passengers looking to travel between its 17,000 islands, something that aviation regulators have struggled to keep up with.

A 12-year-old boy was the sole survivor of a plane crash that killed eight people in mountainous eastern Indonesia in August.

In August 2015, a commercial passenger aircraft operated by Indonesian carrier Trigana crashed in Papua due to bad weather, killing all 54 people on board.&nbsp;

In 2014, an AirAsia plane, which took off from&nbsp;Surabaya in Indonesia to Singapore, was just over 40 minutes into its flight when contact was lost. It was later found that it had&nbsp;crashed. All 162 members lost their lives.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Lion Air, a low-cost airline, has been involved in a number of incidents.

Last year one of its Boeing jets collided with a Wings Air plane as it landed at Kualanamu airport on the island of Sumatra, although no one was injured.

In May 2016, two Lion Air planes collided at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta airport, while a month earlier a plane operated by Batik Air -- part of the Lion Group -- clipped a TransNusa plane.

In 2013 a Lion Air jet with a rookie pilot at the controls undershot the runway and crashed into the sea in Bali, splitting the plane in two. Several people were injured in the crash, although no one was killed.

Lion Air airlines,&nbsp;was rated seven stars and was upgraded to the top safety tier by global rating agency&nbsp;AirlineRatings.com this year, reports said.&nbsp;Besides Lion Air,&nbsp;Garuda Indonesia and Batik Air were also upgraded to the same tier.

Indonesia's air travel industry is booming, with the number of domestic passengers growing significantly over the past decade, but it has acquired a reputation for poor regulation.

(With inputs from AFP) 
&nbsp;

On Monday, a Lion Air plane with 188 passengers on board crashed into the sea off the island of Sumatra. Lion Air is a low-cost Indonesian airline. Indonesian airlines have some of the worst safety records in the world, and Monday's crash was the latest in a long line of crashes of planes owned by Indonesian carriers: In 2007 all Indonesian carriers were placed on the EU Air Safety List, a blacklist of airlines that fall short of the EU's international safety standards - which was lifted earlier this year.

On Monday, a Lion Air plane with 188 passengers on board crashed into the sea off the island of Sumatra. Lion Air is a low-cost Indonesian airline. Indonesian airlines have some of the worst safety records in the world, and Monday's crash was the latest in a long line of crashes of planes owned by Indonesian carriers: In 2007 all Indonesian carriers were placed on the EU Air Safety List, a blacklist of airlines that fall short of the EU's international safety standards - which was lifted earlier this year. In 2015, Indonesia's aviation industry had more airlines with the lowest safety ranking than any other country in the world according to an annual survey conducted by plane safety rating website AirlineRatings.com. Indonesia relies heavily on air transport to connect its thousands of islands but the archipelago has seen a string of high profile aviation accidents in recent years. The country's unique geography has forced a boom in airlines that serve passengers looking to travel between its 17,000 islands, something that aviation regulators have struggled to keep up with. A 12-year-old boy was the sole survivor of a plane crash that killed eight people in mountainous eastern Indonesia in August. In August 2015, a commercial passenger aircraft operated by Indonesian carrier Trigana crashed in Papua due to bad weather, killing all 54 people on board. In 2014, an AirAsia plane, which took off from Surabaya in Indonesia to Singapore, was just over 40 minutes into its flight when contact was lost. It was later found that it had crashed. All 162 members lost their lives. Lion Air, a low-cost airline, has been involved in a number of incidents. Last year one of its Boeing jets collided with a Wings Air plane as it landed at Kualanamu airport on the island of Sumatra, although no one was injured. In May 2016, two Lion Air planes collided at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta airport, while a month earlier a plane operated by Batik Air -- part of the Lion Group -- clipped a TransNusa plane. In 2013 a Lion Air jet with a rookie pilot at the controls undershot the runway and crashed into the sea in Bali, splitting the plane in two. Several people were injured in the crash, although no one was killed. Lion Air airlines, was rated seven stars and was upgraded to the top safety tier by global rating agency AirlineRatings.com this year, reports said. Besides Lion Air, Garuda Indonesia and Batik Air were also upgraded to the same tier. Indonesia's air travel industry is booming, with the number of domestic passengers growing significantly over the past decade, but it has acquired a reputation for poor regulation. (With inputs from AFP)

Indonesian airlines have some of the world's worst safety records

Lion Air's plane was almost brand new. <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-east-asia/lion-air-plane-crash-body-parts-found-as-rescue-agency-says-likely-all-189-aboard-crashed-jet-dead-174197">It was flown for the first time on August 15th</a>, and the airline said it had been certified as airworthy before Monday's flight by an engineer who is a specialist in Boeing models.

The Boeing 737 MAX 8 literally fell out of the sky near where the two men were fishing about 15 km (9 miles) off the coast, silently at first and then with a deafening crash as it smacked into the sea.

The plane dropped more than 500 feet (152 metres), veered to the left and then started climbing again to 5,000 feet (1,524 metres). It gained speed in the final moments before data was lost when it was at an altitude of 3,650 feet (1,113 metres).

The Boeing 737 MAX 8 is the most recent model of Boeing's famous 737, the US company's best-selling plane, and is a popular choice among budget airlines around the world.

Lion Air Chief Executive Edward Sirait said on Monday that the plane had encountered an unspecified "technical issue" on its previous flight, which was from the resort island of Bali to Jakarta, but this had been "resolved according to procedure".

"We don't dare to say what the facts are, or are not, yet," he told reporters. "We are also confused about the why, since it was a new plane."

The captain of Monday's flight JT610 from Jakarta to Pangkal Pinang, the main town on Bangka, a beach-fringed island off Sumatra, was Bhavye Suneja, a 31-year-old Indian citizen originally from New Delhi. He and an Italian passenger were the only known foreigners on board.

According to his Linkedin account, Suneja had worked for Lion Air since 2011, clocking up some 6,000 flight hours. On Facebook there are photos of him in his Lion Air uniform, smiling.

Minutes after take-off at 6:20 am, Suneja reported technical difficulties and obtained permission from ground officials to turn back.

Data from FlightRadar24 showed&nbsp;the first sign of something amiss was around two minutes into the flight, when the plane had reached 2,000 feet (610 metres).

Lion Air's plane was almost brand new. It was flown for the first time on August 15th, and the airline said it had been certified as airworthy before Monday's flight by an engineer who is a specialist in Boeing models.

Lion Air's plane was almost brand new. It was flown for the first time on August 15th, and the airline said it had been certified as airworthy before Monday's flight by an engineer who is a specialist in Boeing models. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 literally fell out of the sky near where the two men were fishing about 15 km (9 miles) off the coast, silently at first and then with a deafening crash as it smacked into the sea. The plane dropped more than 500 feet (152 metres), veered to the left and then started climbing again to 5,000 feet (1,524 metres). It gained speed in the final moments before data was lost when it was at an altitude of 3,650 feet (1,113 metres). The Boeing 737 MAX 8 is the most recent model of Boeing's famous 737, the US company's best-selling plane, and is a popular choice among budget airlines around the world. Lion Air Chief Executive Edward Sirait said on Monday that the plane had encountered an unspecified "technical issue" on its previous flight, which was from the resort island of Bali to Jakarta, but this had been "resolved according to procedure". "We don't dare to say what the facts are, or are not, yet," he told reporters. "We are also confused about the why, since it was a new plane." The captain of Monday's flight JT610 from Jakarta to Pangkal Pinang, the main town on Bangka, a beach-fringed island off Sumatra, was Bhavye Suneja, a 31-year-old Indian citizen originally from New Delhi. He and an Italian passenger were the only known foreigners on board. According to his Linkedin account, Suneja had worked for Lion Air since 2011, clocking up some 6,000 flight hours. On Facebook there are photos of him in his Lion Air uniform, smiling. Minutes after take-off at 6:20 am, Suneja reported technical difficulties and obtained permission from ground officials to turn back. Data from FlightRadar24 showed the first sign of something amiss was around two minutes into the flight, when the plane had reached 2,000 feet (610 metres).

Lion Air's plane was almost brand new, was recent model of Boeing's 737 aircraft

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/indonesian-lion-air-passenger-plane-goes-missing-official-174088">Indonesia: Lion Air plane with 188 on board goes missing</a>

An Indonesian Lion Air passenger plane has gone missing. The plane went missing 13 minutes after it took off from the Indonesian capital Jakarta.&nbsp;

The plane was flying to Pangkal Pinang. There were 188 people on board.&nbsp;

"It’s true that Lion Air JT 610 has lost contact. We have forwarded the information to search and rescue teams," AFP quoted AirNav Indonesia spokesman Yohanes Harry Douglas as saying.

Reuters meanwhile is reporting that the plane has crashed into the sea off the coast of Sumatra.&nbsp;

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/far-right-jair-bolsonaro-wins-brazil-presidential-race-174068">Far-right Jair Bolsonaro wins Brazil elections; he has been called the 'Trump of Brazil'</a>

Far-right lawmaker Jair Bolsonaro won Brazil's presidential election on Sunday (October 28), riding a wave of frustration over corruption and crime that brought a dramatic swing to the right in the world's fourth-largest democracy.

With 94 per cent of ballots counted, Bolsonaro had 56 per cent of the votes in the run-off election against left-wing hopeful Fernando Haddad of the Workers Party (PT), who had 44 per cent, according to the electoral authority TSE.

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/thai-owner-of-leicester-city-was-killed-in-helicopter-crash-174067">Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha pronounced dead in helicopter crash</a>

Leicester City FC has confirmed that the club's owner, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, was died in the helicopter which crashed outside team's stadium shortly after it took off on Saturday.

"It is with the deepest regret and a collective broken heart that we confirm our chairman, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, was among those to have tragically lost their lives on Saturday evening when a helicopter carrying him and four other people crashed outside King Power Stadium," the club said in a statement.

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-crisis-turns-violent-as-one-killed-at-ex-ministers-office-174097">Sri Lanka crisis turns violent as 1 killed at </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-crisis-turns-violent-as-one-killed-at-ex-ministers-office-174097">ex-minister's</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-crisis-turns-violent-as-one-killed-at-ex-ministers-office-174097"> office</a>

A political crisis in Sri Lanka took a deadly turn on Sunday, with one person killed when a sacked cabinet minister tried to re-enter his office, days after the president removed the prime minister and installed a powerful ally of China in his place.

Sri Lanka has been plunged into crisis since Friday, when President Maithripala Sirisena abruptly sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and swore in ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa as the new prime minister to replace him.

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/trump-unlikely-to-honour-indias-invite-for-republic-day-celebrations-174076">Trump unlikely to accept India's Republic Day invite: Sources</a>

US President Donald Trump is unlikely to accept India's invitation to be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations, sources said Sunday.

The US is understood to have conveyed to New Delhi that Trump may not be able to honour the invitation as he will have pressing engagements, including his State of The Union (SOTU) address, around the time India will celebrate its Republic Day.

 
&nbsp;

Indonesia: Lion Air plane with 188 on board goes missing An Indonesian Lion Air passenger plane has gone missing. The plane went missing 13 minutes after it took off from the Indonesian capital Jakarta.

Indonesia: Lion Air plane with 188 on board goes missing An Indonesian Lion Air passenger plane has gone missing. The plane went missing 13 minutes after it took off from the Indonesian capital Jakarta. The plane was flying to Pangkal Pinang. There were 188 people on board. "It’s true that Lion Air JT 610 has lost contact. We have forwarded the information to search and rescue teams," AFP quoted AirNav Indonesia spokesman Yohanes Harry Douglas as saying. Reuters meanwhile is reporting that the plane has crashed into the sea off the coast of Sumatra. Far-right Jair Bolsonaro wins Brazil elections; he has been called the 'Trump of Brazil' Far-right lawmaker Jair Bolsonaro won Brazil's presidential election on Sunday (October 28), riding a wave of frustration over corruption and crime that brought a dramatic swing to the right in the world's fourth-largest democracy. With 94 per cent of ballots counted, Bolsonaro had 56 per cent of the votes in the run-off election against left-wing hopeful Fernando Haddad of the Workers Party (PT), who had 44 per cent, according to the electoral authority TSE. Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha pronounced dead in helicopter crash Leicester City FC has confirmed that the club's owner, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, was died in the helicopter which crashed outside team's stadium shortly after it took off on Saturday. "It is with the deepest regret and a collective broken heart that we confirm our chairman, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, was among those to have tragically lost their lives on Saturday evening when a helicopter carrying him and four other people crashed outside King Power Stadium," the club said in a statement. Sri Lanka crisis turns violent as 1 killed at ex-minister's office A political crisis in Sri Lanka took a deadly turn on Sunday, with one person killed when a sacked cabinet minister tried to re-enter his office, days after the president removed the prime minister and installed a powerful ally of China in his place. Sri Lanka has been plunged into crisis since Friday, when President Maithripala Sirisena abruptly sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and swore in ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa as the new prime minister to replace him. Trump unlikely to accept India's Republic Day invite: Sources US President Donald Trump is unlikely to accept India's invitation to be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations, sources said Sunday. The US is understood to have conveyed to New Delhi that Trump may not be able to honour the invitation as he will have pressing engagements, including his State of The Union (SOTU) address, around the time India will celebrate its Republic Day.

News brief: Big stories of the day

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/in-joint-statement-india-japan-pledge-partnership-in-maritime-security-space-exploration-digital-growth-174217">In </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/in-joint-statement-india-japan-pledge-partnership-in-maritime-security-space-exploration-digital-growth-174217">joint</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/in-joint-statement-india-japan-pledge-partnership-in-maritime-security-space-exploration-digital-growth-174217"> statement, India, Japan pledge partnership in maritime security, space exploration &amp; digital growth</a>

Japanese PM Shinzo Abe and PM Modi today released a joint statement emphasising trade, maritime security and space exploration as the driving force between the two countries.

High-speed railway will be promoted, the Japanese PM said during the joint statement, adding that digital partnership will be improved.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-east-asia/lion-air-plane-crash-body-parts-found-as-rescue-agency-says-likely-all-189-aboard-crashed-jet-dead-174197">Lion Air plane crash: Body parts found as rescue agency says ‘likely’ all 189 aboard crashed jet dead</a>

All 189 passenger and crew aboard a crashed Indonesian jet were “likely” killed in the accident, Indonesia’s search and rescue agency said Monday, as it announced it had found human remains.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/mahinda-rajapaksa-assumes-charge-as-sri-lankas-new-prime-minister-174191">Mahinda Rajapaksa assumes charge as Sri Lanka's new prime minister</a>

Former Sri Lanka president Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday assumed charge as Sri Lanka's new prime minister after the surprise sacking of his predecessor Ranil Wickremesinghe by President Maithripala Sirisena which plunged the island nation into an unprecedented political crisis.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/german-chancellor-merkel-will-not-seek-re-election-as-party-chairman-source-174185">German Chancellor Merkel will not seek re-election as party chairman: Source</a>

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has told leaders of her Christian Democrats (CDU) that she will not seek re-election as party chairwoman at a conference in early December, a senior party source said on Monday.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-police-arrest-ex-oil-minister-ranatunga-over-shooting-174228">Sri Lanka police arrest ex-oil minister Ranatunga over shooting</a>

Sri Lankan police on Monday arrested deposed oil minister Arjuna Ranatunga over a shooting that killed one person on the weekend, police spokesman said.

In joint statement, India, Japan pledge partnership in maritime security, space exploration & digital growth Japanese PM Shinzo Abe and PM Modi today released a joint statement emphasising trade, maritime security and space exploration as the driving force between the two countries.

In joint statement, India, Japan pledge partnership in maritime security, space exploration & digital growth Japanese PM Shinzo Abe and PM Modi today released a joint statement emphasising trade, maritime security and space exploration as the driving force between the two countries. High-speed railway will be promoted, the Japanese PM said during the joint statement, adding that digital partnership will be improved. Lion Air plane crash: Body parts found as rescue agency says ‘likely’ all 189 aboard crashed jet dead All 189 passenger and crew aboard a crashed Indonesian jet were “likely” killed in the accident, Indonesia’s search and rescue agency said Monday, as it announced it had found human remains. Mahinda Rajapaksa assumes charge as Sri Lanka's new prime minister Former Sri Lanka president Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday assumed charge as Sri Lanka's new prime minister after the surprise sacking of his predecessor Ranil Wickremesinghe by President Maithripala Sirisena which plunged the island nation into an unprecedented political crisis. German Chancellor Merkel will not seek re-election as party chairman: Source German Chancellor Angela Merkel has told leaders of her Christian Democrats (CDU) that she will not seek re-election as party chairwoman at a conference in early December, a senior party source said on Monday. Sri Lanka police arrest ex-oil minister Ranatunga over shooting Sri Lankan police on Monday arrested deposed oil minister Arjuna Ranatunga over a shooting that killed one person on the weekend, police spokesman said.

A brand new Indonesian <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/indonesian-lion-air-passenger-plane-goes-missing-official-174088">Lion Air plane carrying 189 passengers and crew crashed</a> into the sea Monday, officials said, moments after it had asked to be allowed to return to Jakarta.

The Boeing-737 MAX, which went into service just months ago, vanished from radar 13 minutes after taking off from the Indonesian capital, plunging into the Java Sea.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/indonesia-air-safety-still-remains-questionable-174127">Indonesian airlines have some of the world's worst safety records</a>

Video footage apparently filmed at the scene of the crash showed a slick of fuel on the surface of the water.

Disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho tweeted pictures of debris, including what appeared to be an emergency slide and various parts of a smashed mobile phone.

Authorities were still searching for the remains of the plane, which lost contact with air traffic control around 6.30 am (2330 GMT), en route to Pangkal Pinang city, a jumping off point for beach-and-sun seeking tourists on nearby Belitung island.

"The plane crashed into water about 30 to 40 metres deep," Search and Rescue Agency spokesman Yusuf Latif told AFP.

Images filmed at Pangkal Pinang's main airport showed families of passengers crying, talking frantically on their mobiles phone and hugging each other.&nbsp;

Some were heard saying "Ya Allah" or "Oh God".

Indonesia's National Transportation Safety Committee (NTSC) said there were 178 adult passengers, one child, two infants, two pilots and six cabin crew on board flight JT 610.

The transport ministry had initially said there was a total of 188 people on board.

The finance ministry said around 20 of its employees were on the plane.

It was not immediately clear if any foreigners were on the downed plane, which Lion said was a new, airworthy plane that had only gone into service in August.

The pilot and co-pilot had more than 11,000 hours of flying time between them, it added.

"Lion Air is very concerned about this incident and will work with relevant agencies and all parties," said spokesman Danang Mandala Prihantoro.

The Flightradar website tracked the plane and showed it looping south on take-off and then heading north before the flight path ended abruptly over the Java Sea, not far from the coast.

Poor safety record 
US-based Boeing said it was "deeply saddened" by news of the crash.

"We express our concern for those on board, and extend heartfelt sympathies to their families and loved ones," it said in a statement.

"Boeing stands ready to provide technical assistance to the accident investigation," it added.

Indonesia relies heavily on air transport to connect its thousands of islands but has a poor aviation safety record and has suffered several fatal crashes in recent years.

A 12-year-old boy was the sole survivor of a plane crash that killed eight people in mountainous eastern Indonesia in August.

In August 2015, a commercial passenger aircraft operated by Indonesian carrier Trigana crashed in Papua due to bad weather, killing all 54 people on board.&nbsp;

In 2014, an AirAsia plane crashed with the loss of 162 lives.&nbsp;

Indonesian investigators' final report showed a chronically faulty component in a rudder control system, poor maintenance and the pilots' inadequate response were major factors in what was supposed to be a routine flight from the Indonesian city of Surabaya to Singapore.

In June, Lion was among three major Indonesian airlines that had their safety ranking upgraded to seven stars by global rating agency AirlineRatings.com.

Lion, a low-cost airline which has engaged in a huge expansion in recent years, has been involved in a number of incidents including a fatal 2004 crash.

Last year one of its Boeing jets collided with a Wings Air plane as it landed at Kualanamu airport on the island of Sumatra, although no one was injured.

In May 2016, two Lion Air planes collided at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta airport, while a month earlier an aircraft operated by Batik Air — part of the Lion Group — clipped a TransNusa plane.

In 2013 a Lion Air jet with a rookie pilot at the controls undershot the runway and crashed into the sea in Bali, splitting the plane in two. Several people were injured in the crash, although no one was killed.

However, in 2004, two dozen people were killed when a Lion Air flight from Jakarta skidded off a rain-slicked runway after landing in the Central Java city of Solo.

Earlier this year, Lion Air announced it as buying some 50 Boeing 737 Max 10 jets for $6.24 billion.

Indonesia's air travel industry is booming, with the number of domestic passengers growing significantly over the past decade, but it has acquired a reputation for poor regulation.

Last year the Indonesian air traffic controllers association revealed that the rate of take-off and landings in Jakarta allowed by state-run air navigation company AirNav was more than the airport could handle, increasing the chance of accidents.

The country's carriers have in the past faced years-long bans from entering European Union and US airspace over their safety records.

A brand new Indonesian Lion Air plane carrying 189 passengers and crew crashed into the sea Monday, officials said, moments after it had asked to be allowed to return to Jakarta.

A brand new Indonesian Lion Air plane carrying 189 passengers and crew crashed into the sea Monday, officials said, moments after it had asked to be allowed to return to Jakarta. The Boeing-737 MAX, which went into service just months ago, vanished from radar 13 minutes after taking off from the Indonesian capital, plunging into the Java Sea. Also read: Indonesian airlines have some of the world's worst safety records Video footage apparently filmed at the scene of the crash showed a slick of fuel on the surface of the water. Disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho tweeted pictures of debris, including what appeared to be an emergency slide and various parts of a smashed mobile phone. Authorities were still searching for the remains of the plane, which lost contact with air traffic control around 6.30 am (2330 GMT), en route to Pangkal Pinang city, a jumping off point for beach-and-sun seeking tourists on nearby Belitung island. "The plane crashed into water about 30 to 40 metres deep," Search and Rescue Agency spokesman Yusuf Latif told AFP. Images filmed at Pangkal Pinang's main airport showed families of passengers crying, talking frantically on their mobiles phone and hugging each other. Some were heard saying "Ya Allah" or "Oh God". Indonesia's National Transportation Safety Committee (NTSC) said there were 178 adult passengers, one child, two infants, two pilots and six cabin crew on board flight JT 610. The transport ministry had initially said there was a total of 188 people on board. The finance ministry said around 20 of its employees were on the plane. It was not immediately clear if any foreigners were on the downed plane, which Lion said was a new, airworthy plane that had only gone into service in August. The pilot and co-pilot had more than 11,000 hours of flying time between them, it added. "Lion Air is very concerned about this incident and will work with relevant agencies and all parties," said spokesman Danang Mandala Prihantoro. The Flightradar website tracked the plane and showed it looping south on take-off and then heading north before the flight path ended abruptly over the Java Sea, not far from the coast. Poor safety record US-based Boeing said it was "deeply saddened" by news of the crash. "We express our concern for those on board, and extend heartfelt sympathies to their families and loved ones," it said in a statement. "Boeing stands ready to provide technical assistance to the accident investigation," it added. Indonesia relies heavily on air transport to connect its thousands of islands but has a poor aviation safety record and has suffered several fatal crashes in recent years. A 12-year-old boy was the sole survivor of a plane crash that killed eight people in mountainous eastern Indonesia in August. In August 2015, a commercial passenger aircraft operated by Indonesian carrier Trigana crashed in Papua due to bad weather, killing all 54 people on board. In 2014, an AirAsia plane crashed with the loss of 162 lives. Indonesian investigators' final report showed a chronically faulty component in a rudder control system, poor maintenance and the pilots' inadequate response were major factors in what was supposed to be a routine flight from the Indonesian city of Surabaya to Singapore. In June, Lion was among three major Indonesian airlines that had their safety ranking upgraded to seven stars by global rating agency AirlineRatings.com. Lion, a low-cost airline which has engaged in a huge expansion in recent years, has been involved in a number of incidents including a fatal 2004 crash. Last year one of its Boeing jets collided with a Wings Air plane as it landed at Kualanamu airport on the island of Sumatra, although no one was injured. In May 2016, two Lion Air planes collided at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta airport, while a month earlier an aircraft operated by Batik Air — part of the Lion Group — clipped a TransNusa plane. In 2013 a Lion Air jet with a rookie pilot at the controls undershot the runway and crashed into the sea in Bali, splitting the plane in two. Several people were injured in the crash, although no one was killed. However, in 2004, two dozen people were killed when a Lion Air flight from Jakarta skidded off a rain-slicked runway after landing in the Central Java city of Solo. Earlier this year, Lion Air announced it as buying some 50 Boeing 737 Max 10 jets for $6.24 billion. Indonesia's air travel industry is booming, with the number of domestic passengers growing significantly over the past decade, but it has acquired a reputation for poor regulation. Last year the Indonesian air traffic controllers association revealed that the rate of take-off and landings in Jakarta allowed by state-run air navigation company AirNav was more than the airport could handle, increasing the chance of accidents. The country's carriers have in the past faced years-long bans from entering European Union and US airspace over their safety records.

Indonesia: Lion Air plane with 189 on board crashes into sea, authorities search for remains

Surabaya in Indonesia offers free bus rides in exchange of plastic

South Korean footballers were left dumbfounded at an international tournament in Indonesia when organisers played the North's anthem instead.

Ahead of an AFC under-19 Championship qualifier against Jordan at the Patriot Candrabhaga Stadium on the outskirts of Jakarta, the South's team lined up with their hands on their hearts.

But instead of Seoul's hymn-like anthem "Aegukga", North Korea's national tune blared out, leaving them stony-faced and silent.

The South's coaching staff told officials of the mistake, and while the correct song was then played, they protested after the game on Monday evening.

Seoul's football authorities said Tuesday they will file a formal complaint with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

"This is the first time that the North Korean anthem was played instead of Aegukga at any official international match for any level of the national football team," the Korea Football Association said in a statement.

The tournament's local organising committee blamed the error on the audio operator in charge of playing the anthem.

"During the rehearsal, the South Korean anthem was played. But somehow the operator later picked the wrong song file," Gatot Widagdo, media coordinator for the AFF U-19 Youth Championship, told AFP Tuesday.

"The operator has (since) been replaced and we have apologised to South Korea verbally and in writing."

But he added that "somebody from the AFC should have monitored or guarded the control room".

The mistake comes as a rapid diplomatic thaw takes hold on the peninsula, led by South Korea's dovish President Moon Jae-in who has met with the North's Kim Jong Un three times this year.

North and South Korea formed unified teams for some events at the Asian Games two months ago, also hosted by Indonesia, and reached the women's basketball final.

But the democratic South remains technically at war with the communist North after the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice instead of a peace treaty.

It is not the first time sports organisers have been stumped by Korean politics.

At the 2012 Olympics, North Korea's&nbsp;women footballers walked off the pitch ahead of a group match in Glasgow when they were introduced next to images of the South Korean flag.

South Korean footballers were left dumbfounded at an international tournament in Indonesia when organisers played the North's anthem instead. Ahead of an AFC under-19 Championship qualifier against Jordan at the Patriot Candrabhaga Stadium on the outskirts of Jakarta, the South's team lined up with their hands on their hearts.

South Korean footballers were left dumbfounded at an international tournament in Indonesia when organisers played the North's anthem instead. Ahead of an AFC under-19 Championship qualifier against Jordan at the Patriot Candrabhaga Stadium on the outskirts of Jakarta, the South's team lined up with their hands on their hearts. But instead of Seoul's hymn-like anthem "Aegukga", North Korea's national tune blared out, leaving them stony-faced and silent. The South's coaching staff told officials of the mistake, and while the correct song was then played, they protested after the game on Monday evening. Seoul's football authorities said Tuesday they will file a formal complaint with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). "This is the first time that the North Korean anthem was played instead of Aegukga at any official international match for any level of the national football team," the Korea Football Association said in a statement. The tournament's local organising committee blamed the error on the audio operator in charge of playing the anthem. "During the rehearsal, the South Korean anthem was played. But somehow the operator later picked the wrong song file," Gatot Widagdo, media coordinator for the AFF U-19 Youth Championship, told AFP Tuesday. "The operator has (since) been replaced and we have apologised to South Korea verbally and in writing." But he added that "somebody from the AFC should have monitored or guarded the control room". The mistake comes as a rapid diplomatic thaw takes hold on the peninsula, led by South Korea's dovish President Moon Jae-in who has met with the North's Kim Jong Un three times this year. North and South Korea formed unified teams for some events at the Asian Games two months ago, also hosted by Indonesia, and reached the women's basketball final. But the democratic South remains technically at war with the communist North after the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice instead of a peace treaty. It is not the first time sports organisers have been stumped by Korean politics. At the 2012 Olympics, North Korea's women footballers walked off the pitch ahead of a group match in Glasgow when they were introduced next to images of the South Korean flag.

South Korea plays football match, anthem played is North Korea's

At least 22 people have died and many are missing after heavy rain unleashed flash floods and landslides in western Indonesia, an official said Saturday.

Heavy downpours since Wednesday triggered flooding and landslides that hit several districts on Sumatra island.

At least 17 people were confirmed killed in the last three days in North Sumatra province, while five others were killed in West Sumatra, authorities said.

"Eleven students of an Islamic boarding school in Muara Saladi village, Mandailing Natal district, North Sumatra died Friday afternoon during class as they were struck by a building which was destroyed by the flash floods," spokesman for the national disaster agency Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said.

Dozens of houses have also been destroyed.&nbsp;

"The disaster and search and rescue agency have gone to the districts but have been hampered by the landslides in several areas," the head of North Sumatra disaster agency Riadil Lubis told AFP.

Landslides and flooding are common in Indonesia, a vast tropical archipelago prone to natural disasters and torrential downpours.

In February, 12 people died when an avalanche of mud and rock cascaded down a steep slope in central Java, Indonesia's main island.

In June 2016, nearly 50 people died when heavy downpours sent torrents of water, mud and rock into villages also in Central Java province.

At least 22 people have died and many are missing after heavy rain unleashed flash floods and landslides in western Indonesia, an official said Saturday. Heavy downpours since Wednesday triggered flooding and landslides that hit several districts on Sumatra island.

At least 22 people have died and many are missing after heavy rain unleashed flash floods and landslides in western Indonesia, an official said Saturday. Heavy downpours since Wednesday triggered flooding and landslides that hit several districts on Sumatra island. At least 17 people were confirmed killed in the last three days in North Sumatra province, while five others were killed in West Sumatra, authorities said. "Eleven students of an Islamic boarding school in Muara Saladi village, Mandailing Natal district, North Sumatra died Friday afternoon during class as they were struck by a building which was destroyed by the flash floods," spokesman for the national disaster agency Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said. Dozens of houses have also been destroyed. "The disaster and search and rescue agency have gone to the districts but have been hampered by the landslides in several areas," the head of North Sumatra disaster agency Riadil Lubis told AFP. Landslides and flooding are common in Indonesia, a vast tropical archipelago prone to natural disasters and torrential downpours. In February, 12 people died when an avalanche of mud and rock cascaded down a steep slope in central Java, Indonesia's main island. In June 2016, nearly 50 people died when heavy downpours sent torrents of water, mud and rock into villages also in Central Java province.

At least 22 dead in Indonesia floods and landslides

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-china-to-hold-key-talks-to-reduce-trade-military-tensions-170026">US, China to hold key talks to reduce trade, military tensions</a>

China and the United States are set to hold high-level talks here on Monday to reduce the spiralling trade and military tensions between the world's two largest economies.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/kim-pompeo-agree-to-2nd-us-north-korea-summit-at-earliest-date-170028">Kim, Pompeo agree to second US-North Korea summit 'at earliest date'</a>

Kim Jong Un has agreed to hold a second summit with US President Donald Trump as soon as possible, Seoul said Sunday, after Washington's top diplomat held "productive" talks on denuclearisation with the North Korean leader in Pyongyang.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/china-pumps-109-billion-into-economy-as-trade-war-bites-on-growth-170027">China pumps $109 billion into </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/china-pumps-109-billion-into-economy-as-trade-war-bites-on-growth-170027">economy</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/china-pumps-109-billion-into-economy-as-trade-war-bites-on-growth-170027"> as trade war bites on growth</a>

China's central bank said on Sunday that it was cutting the reserve requirement ratios (RRRs) by one per cent from October 15 which will inject a net $ 109.2 billion in cash into the banking system, amid a deepening trade war with the US that has increased pressure on growth in the world's second-largest economy.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/5000-believed-missing-in-two-hard-hit-indonesian-quake-zones-1763-dead-169999">5,000 believed missing in two hard-hit Indonesian quake zones; 1,763 dead</a>

As many as 5,000 people are believed missing from two hard-hit areas in Palu more than a week after the Indonesian city was devastated by an earthquake and tsunami, an official said Sunday.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/ril-worst-affected-as-top-10-most-valued-companies-lose-rs-255995-crore-in-m-cap-169998">Mukesh Ambani's RIL worst affected as top 10 companies lose Rs 2.5 lakh cr in market cap</a>

A weak broader market pulled down the combined market valuation of the top 10 most valued Indian companies by a whopping Rs 2,55,995 crore last week, with RIL taking the steepest hit.

US, China to hold key talks to reduce trade, military tensions China and the United States are set to hold high-level talks here on Monday to reduce the spiralling trade and military tensions between the world's two largest economies.

US, China to hold key talks to reduce trade, military tensions China and the United States are set to hold high-level talks here on Monday to reduce the spiralling trade and military tensions between the world's two largest economies. Kim, Pompeo agree to second US-North Korea summit 'at earliest date' Kim Jong Un has agreed to hold a second summit with US President Donald Trump as soon as possible, Seoul said Sunday, after Washington's top diplomat held "productive" talks on denuclearisation with the North Korean leader in Pyongyang. China pumps $109 billion into economy as trade war bites on growth China's central bank said on Sunday that it was cutting the reserve requirement ratios (RRRs) by one per cent from October 15 which will inject a net $ 109.2 billion in cash into the banking system, amid a deepening trade war with the US that has increased pressure on growth in the world's second-largest economy. 5,000 believed missing in two hard-hit Indonesian quake zones; 1,763 dead As many as 5,000 people are believed missing from two hard-hit areas in Palu more than a week after the Indonesian city was devastated by an earthquake and tsunami, an official said Sunday. Mukesh Ambani's RIL worst affected as top 10 companies lose Rs 2.5 lakh cr in market cap A weak broader market pulled down the combined market valuation of the top 10 most valued Indian companies by a whopping Rs 2,55,995 crore last week, with RIL taking the steepest hit.

Indonesian rescue workers will stop searching for the bodies of victims of an earthquake and tsunami on the island of Sulawesi on Thursday, the national disaster mitigation agency said on Sunday.

The announcement came after the official death toll from the 7.5 magnitude quake and a tsunami it triggered on Sept. 28 rose to 1,763.

Bodies are still being recovered, especially from the ruins of buildings in the small city of Palu and from neighbourhoods hit by liquefaction, a phenomenon that turns the ground into a roiling quagmire, in the south of city.

"Evacuation stops on October 11," the national disaster mitigation agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho told a news briefing, using an Indonesian word that applies to the search and retrieval of both living and dead people.

"Victims who have not been found are declared missing," he said. Some limited searching might still be undertaken but large-scale searches with many personnel and heavy equipment would cease, he said.

Many hundreds of people are still buried in mud and debris in the south of Palu, where neighbourhoods were obliterated by liquefaction and desperate relatives have been seeking help to find loved ones.

Dozens of rescuers removed 34 bodies from one place on Saturday.

Nugroho said the debris would be removed from those places and they would be turned into public spaces like parks and sports venues. Surveys would be carried out and people living in areas vulnerable to liquefaction would be moved.

"We don't want the community to be relocated to such dangerous places," he said.

Most of the dead have been found in Palu, the region's main urban centre.

Figures for more remote areas, some just re-connected to the outside world by road, are trickling in. The heaviest casualties appear to have been in Palu.

PRAYERS

One grieving father appeared resigned to the fact the search for victims will end within days.

"What’s the point anyway? At this stage they are not even recognisable," said Ondre, 38, who makes toys for a living.

His wife and two daughters were swept away in the tsunami that hit Palu's seafront shortly after the earthquake.

He found the bodies of his wife and older daughter but is still looking for his younger daughter, aged two.

Speaking by a mass grave atop a hill overlooking Palu's bay as the sun began to set, Ondre said he had come to offer prayers for his little daughter.

"I don’t want her to feel like her father never tried to find her. My soul wouldn’t rest," he said.

Sulawesi is one of Indonesia's five main islands and, like the others, is exposed to frequent earthquakes 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.

Earlier on Sunday, dozens of Christians gathered outside ruined churches for open-air services to give thanks for their survival and to mourn members of their congregation killed in the disaster.

Indonesia has the world's biggest Muslim population but there are Christian communities throughout the archipelago, including in Palu.

"We are so relieved to be alive but sad because so many of our congregation died," said Dewi Febriani, a 26-year-old economics student, after a service in a tent set up outside the Toraja Church in Jono Oge village, just south of Palu.

Jono Oge was particularly hard hit by liquefaction.

Dozens of teenagers at a nearby church and Bible camp were killed. Many of their bodies lie buried in the mud.

A big aid operation is gearing up to help hard-hit communities where some 70,000 people have been displaced.

Indonesian rescue workers will stop searching for the bodies of victims of an earthquake and tsunami on the island of Sulawesi on Thursday, the national disaster mitigation agency said on Sunday.

Indonesian rescue workers will stop searching for the bodies of victims of an earthquake and tsunami on the island of Sulawesi on Thursday, the national disaster mitigation agency said on Sunday. The announcement came after the official death toll from the 7.5 magnitude quake and a tsunami it triggered on Sept. 28 rose to 1,763. Bodies are still being recovered, especially from the ruins of buildings in the small city of Palu and from neighbourhoods hit by liquefaction, a phenomenon that turns the ground into a roiling quagmire, in the south of city. "Evacuation stops on October 11," the national disaster mitigation agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho told a news briefing, using an Indonesian word that applies to the search and retrieval of both living and dead people. "Victims who have not been found are declared missing," he said. Some limited searching might still be undertaken but large-scale searches with many personnel and heavy equipment would cease, he said. Many hundreds of people are still buried in mud and debris in the south of Palu, where neighbourhoods were obliterated by liquefaction and desperate relatives have been seeking help to find loved ones. Dozens of rescuers removed 34 bodies from one place on Saturday. Nugroho said the debris would be removed from those places and they would be turned into public spaces like parks and sports venues. Surveys would be carried out and people living in areas vulnerable to liquefaction would be moved. "We don't want the community to be relocated to such dangerous places," he said. Most of the dead have been found in Palu, the region's main urban centre. Figures for more remote areas, some just re-connected to the outside world by road, are trickling in. The heaviest casualties appear to have been in Palu. PRAYERS One grieving father appeared resigned to the fact the search for victims will end within days. "What’s the point anyway? At this stage they are not even recognisable," said Ondre, 38, who makes toys for a living. His wife and two daughters were swept away in the tsunami that hit Palu's seafront shortly after the earthquake. He found the bodies of his wife and older daughter but is still looking for his younger daughter, aged two. Speaking by a mass grave atop a hill overlooking Palu's bay as the sun began to set, Ondre said he had come to offer prayers for his little daughter. "I don’t want her to feel like her father never tried to find her. My soul wouldn’t rest," he said. Sulawesi is one of Indonesia's five main islands and, like the others, is exposed to frequent earthquakes 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. Earlier on Sunday, dozens of Christians gathered outside ruined churches for open-air services to give thanks for their survival and to mourn members of their congregation killed in the disaster. Indonesia has the world's biggest Muslim population but there are Christian communities throughout the archipelago, including in Palu. "We are so relieved to be alive but sad because so many of our congregation died," said Dewi Febriani, a 26-year-old economics student, after a service in a tent set up outside the Toraja Church in Jono Oge village, just south of Palu. Jono Oge was particularly hard hit by liquefaction. Dozens of teenagers at a nearby church and Bible camp were killed. Many of their bodies lie buried in the mud. A big aid operation is gearing up to help hard-hit communities where some 70,000 people have been displaced.

Indonesia says to end search for quake victims on Thursday

Rescuers picking through the grim aftermath of Indonesia's quake-tsunami issued a fresh public health warning Saturday as more decaying corpses were unearthed from beneath the ruined city of Palu.

More than a thousand people may still be missing in the seaside city on Sulawesi island, officials said, after the region was hit by a powerful quake and a wall of water, with the official death toll now at 1,571.

Hopes of finding anyone alive a full eight days since the disaster have all but faded, though Indonesian authorities have not officially called off the search for survivors.

There are fears that vast numbers of decomposing bodies could be buried beneath Petobo and Balaroa -- two areas virtually wiped off the map -- and authorities have warned survivors to steer clear as they brace for more macabre discoveries.

"Most of the bodies we have found are not intact, and that poses a danger for the rescuers. We have to be very careful to avoid contamination," Yusuf Latif, a spokesman for Indonesia's search and rescue effort, told AFP from Palu.

"We have vaccinated our teams, but we need to be extra cautious as they are exposed to health hazards. This is also a health concern for the public. It is very hard to control the crowd... People might be exposed to danger."

'Just bodies'

At a massive government housing complex at Balaroa, where the sheer force of the quake turned the earth temporarily to mush, soldiers in face masks clambered over the giant mounds of mud, brick and cement.

The troops peeking under collapsed walls and peeling back corrugated sheets do not have to look hard.

Sergeant Syafaruddin, from an army unit in Makassar south of Palu, asks for a body bag to be brought across to a spot near where the remnants of an Islamic school now stands.

Two of his soldiers emerge from the ditch with the body bag sagging in the middle but looking too light to be a corpse -- they say they found the heads of two adults and one child.&nbsp;

"There are no survivors here. We just find bodies, every day," says Syafaruddin, who like many Indonesians goes by one name.

At another spot, a digger is called to turn over the devastated remains of a home. With almost no effort he unearths the body of a long haired lady buried in mud.

At the flattened Hotel Roa-Roa -- where early optimism that survivors might be found faded as the days wore on and tropical heat intensified -- search teams also prepared body bags.&nbsp;

Rescuers reviewed CCTV footage Saturday to get a sense of where the doomed guests could be buried beneath the impenetrable mountain of twisted rubble.

Short supplies

Survivors have ransacked shops and supply trucks in the hunt for basic necessities, prompting security forces to round up dozens of suspected looters and warn that they will open fire on thieves.

Hundreds of people Saturday rushed a truck carrying gas cylinders for cooking, with long and desperate queues quickly forming.&nbsp;

One supermarket that opened its doors refused to allow people inside, instead passing goods through the door as armed troops stood watch.

"We have not raised prices at all. However, we are not letting customers inside for safety reasons. The building survived the earthquake, but we don't know how safe it is," said Satria Hamid, a spokesman for the Transmart Carrefour supermarket.

Thousands of survivors continued to stream out of Palu to nearby cities in the aftermath of the disaster.

Hospitals remain overstretched and short on staff and supplies.

Project HOPE, a medical NGO, said only two of its 82 staff in Palu had reported for duty since the quake.

"We still don’t know the fate of the clinic doctors, nurses and technicians who usually staff the clinic," the organisation said in a statement.

A floating hospital run by the Indonesian navy and docked in Palu port has already assisted with the delivery of a baby, local media reported.

Aid trickles in

The United Nations said Friday it was seeking $50.5 million "for immediate relief" to help victims of the devastating quake and tsunami in Indonesia.

After days of delays, international aid is slowly making its way to the disaster zone, where the UN says almost 200,000 people need humanitarian assistance.

Indonesia had been reluctant to accept outside help at first but as the scale of the disaster became clear the government agreed to allow in foreign aid. 
Getting vital supplies to the affected areas has proved hugely challenging, with the number of flights able to land at Palu's small airport still limited, leaving aid workers facing gruelling overland journeys.

Oxfam had sent water treatment units and purification kits to Palu and Swiss aid teams on the ground were providing drinking water and emergency shelter, both said in statements Saturday.

Indonesia sits along the Pacific "Ring of Fire", the world's most tectonically active region, and its 260 million people are vulnerable to earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions.

Rescuers picking through the grim aftermath of Indonesia's quake-tsunami issued a fresh public health warning Saturday as more decaying corpses were unearthed from beneath the ruined city of Palu.

Rescuers picking through the grim aftermath of Indonesia's quake-tsunami issued a fresh public health warning Saturday as more decaying corpses were unearthed from beneath the ruined city of Palu. More than a thousand people may still be missing in the seaside city on Sulawesi island, officials said, after the region was hit by a powerful quake and a wall of water, with the official death toll now at 1,571. Hopes of finding anyone alive a full eight days since the disaster have all but faded, though Indonesian authorities have not officially called off the search for survivors. There are fears that vast numbers of decomposing bodies could be buried beneath Petobo and Balaroa -- two areas virtually wiped off the map -- and authorities have warned survivors to steer clear as they brace for more macabre discoveries. "Most of the bodies we have found are not intact, and that poses a danger for the rescuers. We have to be very careful to avoid contamination," Yusuf Latif, a spokesman for Indonesia's search and rescue effort, told AFP from Palu. "We have vaccinated our teams, but we need to be extra cautious as they are exposed to health hazards. This is also a health concern for the public. It is very hard to control the crowd... People might be exposed to danger." 'Just bodies' At a massive government housing complex at Balaroa, where the sheer force of the quake turned the earth temporarily to mush, soldiers in face masks clambered over the giant mounds of mud, brick and cement. The troops peeking under collapsed walls and peeling back corrugated sheets do not have to look hard. Sergeant Syafaruddin, from an army unit in Makassar south of Palu, asks for a body bag to be brought across to a spot near where the remnants of an Islamic school now stands. Two of his soldiers emerge from the ditch with the body bag sagging in the middle but looking too light to be a corpse -- they say they found the heads of two adults and one child. "There are no survivors here. We just find bodies, every day," says Syafaruddin, who like many Indonesians goes by one name. At another spot, a digger is called to turn over the devastated remains of a home. With almost no effort he unearths the body of a long haired lady buried in mud. At the flattened Hotel Roa-Roa -- where early optimism that survivors might be found faded as the days wore on and tropical heat intensified -- search teams also prepared body bags. Rescuers reviewed CCTV footage Saturday to get a sense of where the doomed guests could be buried beneath the impenetrable mountain of twisted rubble. Short supplies Survivors have ransacked shops and supply trucks in the hunt for basic necessities, prompting security forces to round up dozens of suspected looters and warn that they will open fire on thieves. Hundreds of people Saturday rushed a truck carrying gas cylinders for cooking, with long and desperate queues quickly forming. One supermarket that opened its doors refused to allow people inside, instead passing goods through the door as armed troops stood watch. "We have not raised prices at all. However, we are not letting customers inside for safety reasons. The building survived the earthquake, but we don't know how safe it is," said Satria Hamid, a spokesman for the Transmart Carrefour supermarket. Thousands of survivors continued to stream out of Palu to nearby cities in the aftermath of the disaster. Hospitals remain overstretched and short on staff and supplies. Project HOPE, a medical NGO, said only two of its 82 staff in Palu had reported for duty since the quake. "We still don’t know the fate of the clinic doctors, nurses and technicians who usually staff the clinic," the organisation said in a statement. A floating hospital run by the Indonesian navy and docked in Palu port has already assisted with the delivery of a baby, local media reported. Aid trickles in The United Nations said Friday it was seeking $50.5 million "for immediate relief" to help victims of the devastating quake and tsunami in Indonesia. After days of delays, international aid is slowly making its way to the disaster zone, where the UN says almost 200,000 people need humanitarian assistance. Indonesia had been reluctant to accept outside help at first but as the scale of the disaster became clear the government agreed to allow in foreign aid. Getting vital supplies to the affected areas has proved hugely challenging, with the number of flights able to land at Palu's small airport still limited, leaving aid workers facing gruelling overland journeys. Oxfam had sent water treatment units and purification kits to Palu and Swiss aid teams on the ground were providing drinking water and emergency shelter, both said in statements Saturday. Indonesia sits along the Pacific "Ring of Fire", the world's most tectonically active region, and its 260 million people are vulnerable to earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions.

Disease fears as more bodies found in Indonesia disaster

The search and rescue agency has stated that over 1,000 people may still be missing in Indonesia disaster.

Search teams made desperate last-ditch efforts Friday to find survivors, a week on from Indonesia's devastating quake-tsunami, as the death toll from the disaster rose above 1,500.

The city of Palu on Sulawesi island has been left in ruins after being hit by a 7.5 magnitude quake and a &nbsp;wall of water, which flattened homes, ripped up trees and overturned cars.

After days of delays, international aid has finally started to arrive in the disaster zone, where the UN says almost 200,000 people are in need of humanitarian assistance.

Survivors have ransacked shops and supply trucks in the hunt for basic necessities, prompting security forces to round up dozens of suspected looters and warn that they will fire on thieves.

Authorities previously set a tentative deadline of Friday for finding anyone trapped under ruined buildings, although chances of pulling survivors alive from the rubble at such a late stage are almost zero.

Local military spokesman Muhammad Thohir said that the death toll had risen to 1,558, up about 100 from the previous official figure.

Over 1000 people are still unaccounted for, while hundreds of bodies have been buried in mass graves in a bid to avert a disease outbreak from corpses rotting in the tropical sun.

Search efforts focused on eight key locations Friday, including a beach and the Balaroa area where the sheer force of the quake turned the earth temporarily to mush.

"We have to use heavy equipment now because it is very difficult to sift through the rubble by hand," Yusuf Latif, a spokesman for Indonesia's search and rescue agency, told AFP.

At the badly damaged Mercure hotel on Palu's waterfront, there was growing frustration among a French and Indonesian search team.

The rescuers, using sniffer dogs and scanners, had detected what they believed was a person under mounds of rubble the previous evening but when they resumed the hunt early Friday, any signs of life had disappeared.

&nbsp;

The search and rescue agency has stated that over 1,000 people may still be missing in Indonesia disaster. Search teams made desperate last-ditch efforts Friday to find survivors, a week on from Indonesia's devastating quake-tsunami, as the death toll from the disaster rose above 1,500.

The search and rescue agency has stated that over 1,000 people may still be missing in Indonesia disaster. Search teams made desperate last-ditch efforts Friday to find survivors, a week on from Indonesia's devastating quake-tsunami, as the death toll from the disaster rose above 1,500. The city of Palu on Sulawesi island has been left in ruins after being hit by a 7.5 magnitude quake and a wall of water, which flattened homes, ripped up trees and overturned cars. After days of delays, international aid has finally started to arrive in the disaster zone, where the UN says almost 200,000 people are in need of humanitarian assistance. Survivors have ransacked shops and supply trucks in the hunt for basic necessities, prompting security forces to round up dozens of suspected looters and warn that they will fire on thieves. Authorities previously set a tentative deadline of Friday for finding anyone trapped under ruined buildings, although chances of pulling survivors alive from the rubble at such a late stage are almost zero. Local military spokesman Muhammad Thohir said that the death toll had risen to 1,558, up about 100 from the previous official figure. Over 1000 people are still unaccounted for, while hundreds of bodies have been buried in mass graves in a bid to avert a disease outbreak from corpses rotting in the tropical sun. Search efforts focused on eight key locations Friday, including a beach and the Balaroa area where the sheer force of the quake turned the earth temporarily to mush. "We have to use heavy equipment now because it is very difficult to sift through the rubble by hand," Yusuf Latif, a spokesman for Indonesia's search and rescue agency, told AFP. At the badly damaged Mercure hotel on Palu's waterfront, there was growing frustration among a French and Indonesian search team. The rescuers, using sniffer dogs and scanners, had detected what they believed was a person under mounds of rubble the previous evening but when they resumed the hunt early Friday, any signs of life had disappeared.

Over 1000 may still be missing in Indonesia disaster: Rescue agency

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

Indonesia has cracked down on "fake news" about its deadly quake-tsunami disaster, with police arresting nine people for spreading hoaxes in a bid to prevent further panic spreading among survivors.

False reports claiming that another huge quake was about to hit Sulawesi island -- which is already reeling from last Friday's double tragedy that has killed over 1,400 people -- have circulated online in recent days.&nbsp;

Another Facebook post used a photo of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami aftermath to depict what it claimed was a scene from the seaside city of Palu.

A caption read: "Those who share this post will be spared from calamities".

Setyo Wasisto, Indonesia's national police spokesman, told Kompas TV on Thursday that nine people had been arrested on suspicion of spreading false news. Most of the contents were posted to Facebook, he added.

Indonesia has a long-standing problem with internet hoaxes, and fake news is never far behind after a disaster.

The country has one of the world's biggest online audiences, with a population of 260 million people and one of the world's highest social media usage rates.

"If anyone predicts another massive earthquake or tsunami, it's fake news," said Daryono, head of the geophysics agency's quake and tsunami information centre, who like many Indonesians goes by one name.

"If you spread this kind of information, you're just going to create more suffering and confusion for people."

Teams from Indonesia's communications ministry and disaster agency have taken to Twitter and other social media to debunk fake claims in recent days.

Communication and Information Ministry spokesman Ferdinandus Setu told AFP a 70-strong team was working 24 hours a day on fake reports about disaster, including a claim that Palu's mayor was among the dead.

"We've confirmed that the mayor is still alive and healthy," Setu said.

Rampant hoaxes&nbsp;

Once the team debunks the contents, the ministry announces the findings through regular press releases and also gives the findings to the police.

The disaster agency's efforts are being fronted by spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, who has won admirers for battling to update journalists around the clock despite suffering from terminal cancer.

"I apologise if I cannot respond to every question from journalists, my friends. If I was healthy, I would surely do it no matter what," Nugroho told reporters this week, even as he continues to hold daily press briefings, take journalists' calls and communicate on social media.

Hoaxes were also rampant during a quake disaster on the island of Lombok, next to Bali, this summer.

Indonesian police have clamped down on fake news and online hate speech more broadly in recent months, ahead of next year's presidential election.&nbsp;

President Joko Widodo -- who has battled false internet claims that he is a communist -- inaugurated a new cyber security agency in January.

The following month, the communications ministry announced it was deploying new software to identify fake news websites.

Members of the Muslim Cyber Army (MCA) -- a cluster of loosely connected groups accused of using Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to attack the government and stoke religious extremism -- have been rounded up.

Some 130 million Indonesians -- about half the population -- spend an average of nearly three-and-a-half hours a day on social media, one of the highest rates in the world, according to data from London-based creative agency We Are Social and social media management platform Hootsuite.

The country was also late to introduce digital literacy programmes, experts say.

Indonesia has cracked down on "fake news" about its deadly quake-tsunami disaster, with police arresting nine people for spreading hoaxes in a bid to prevent further panic spreading among survivors.

Indonesia has cracked down on "fake news" about its deadly quake-tsunami disaster, with police arresting nine people for spreading hoaxes in a bid to prevent further panic spreading among survivors. False reports claiming that another huge quake was about to hit Sulawesi island -- which is already reeling from last Friday's double tragedy that has killed over 1,400 people -- have circulated online in recent days. Another Facebook post used a photo of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami aftermath to depict what it claimed was a scene from the seaside city of Palu. A caption read: "Those who share this post will be spared from calamities". Setyo Wasisto, Indonesia's national police spokesman, told Kompas TV on Thursday that nine people had been arrested on suspicion of spreading false news. Most of the contents were posted to Facebook, he added. Indonesia has a long-standing problem with internet hoaxes, and fake news is never far behind after a disaster. The country has one of the world's biggest online audiences, with a population of 260 million people and one of the world's highest social media usage rates. "If anyone predicts another massive earthquake or tsunami, it's fake news," said Daryono, head of the geophysics agency's quake and tsunami information centre, who like many Indonesians goes by one name. "If you spread this kind of information, you're just going to create more suffering and confusion for people." Teams from Indonesia's communications ministry and disaster agency have taken to Twitter and other social media to debunk fake claims in recent days. Communication and Information Ministry spokesman Ferdinandus Setu told AFP a 70-strong team was working 24 hours a day on fake reports about disaster, including a claim that Palu's mayor was among the dead. "We've confirmed that the mayor is still alive and healthy," Setu said. Rampant hoaxes Once the team debunks the contents, the ministry announces the findings through regular press releases and also gives the findings to the police. The disaster agency's efforts are being fronted by spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, who has won admirers for battling to update journalists around the clock despite suffering from terminal cancer. "I apologise if I cannot respond to every question from journalists, my friends. If I was healthy, I would surely do it no matter what," Nugroho told reporters this week, even as he continues to hold daily press briefings, take journalists' calls and communicate on social media. Hoaxes were also rampant during a quake disaster on the island of Lombok, next to Bali, this summer. Indonesian police have clamped down on fake news and online hate speech more broadly in recent months, ahead of next year's presidential election. President Joko Widodo -- who has battled false internet claims that he is a communist -- inaugurated a new cyber security agency in January. The following month, the communications ministry announced it was deploying new software to identify fake news websites. Members of the Muslim Cyber Army (MCA) -- a cluster of loosely connected groups accused of using Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to attack the government and stoke religious extremism -- have been rounded up. Some 130 million Indonesians -- about half the population -- spend an average of nearly three-and-a-half hours a day on social media, one of the highest rates in the world, according to data from London-based creative agency We Are Social and social media management platform Hootsuite. The country was also late to introduce digital literacy programmes, experts say.

Indonesia battles fake news after quake-tsunami disaster

Death toll in Indonesia crosses 1,400 after earthquake and tsunami

By Anja Scheffers

The magnitude 7.5 earthquake, and subsequent tsunami, that struck Indonesia days ago has resulted in at least 1,400 deaths.

Authorities are still gauging the extent of the damage, but it’s clear the earthquake and tsunami had a devastating effect on the Sulawesi region, particularly the city of Palu.

It’s not the first time earthquakes have caused mass destruction and death in Indonesia. The tsunamis that follow are particularly damaging. But why?

A combination of plate tectonic in the region, the shape of the coastline, vulnerable communities and a less-than-robust early warning system all combine to make Indonesian tsunamis especially dangerous.

Tectonic plates 
​ 
Indonesia covers many complex tectonic environments. Many details of these are still poorly understood, which hampers our ability to predict earthquake and tsunami risks.

The biggest earthquakes on Earth are “subduction zone” earthquakes, which occur where two tectonic plates meet.

In December 2004 and March 2005, there was a pair of subduction zone earthquakes along the Sunda Trench offshore of the west coast of Sumatra. In particular, the magnitude-9.1 quake in December 2004 generated a devastating tsunami that killed almost a quarter of a million people in countries and islands surrounding the Indian Ocean.

But only looking out for these kinds of earthquakes can blind us to other dangers. Eastern Indonesia has many small microplates, which are jostled around by the motion of the large Australia, Sunda, Pacific and Philippine Sea plates.

The September quake was caused by what’s called a “strike-slip” fault in the interior of one of these small plates. It is rare – although not unknown – for these kinds of quakes to create tsunamis.

The fault systems are rather large, and through erosion processes have created broad river valleys and estuaries. The valley of the Palu river, and its estuary in which the regional capital Palu is located, have been formed by this complex fault system. Studies of prehistoric earthquakes along this fault system suggest this fault produces magnitude 7-8 earthquakes roughly every 700 years.

The seafloor shapes the wave 
 
Another important factor for tsunamis is the depth and shape of the seafloor. This determines the speed of the initial waves. Strong subduction zone earthquakes on the ocean floor can cause the entire ocean water column to lift, then plunge back down. As the water has momentum, it may fall below sea level and create strong oscillations.

The bulge of water moving outward from the centre of an earthquake maybe of limited height (rarely much more than a metre), but the mass of water is extremely large (depending on the surface area moved by the earthquake).

Tsunami waves can travel very fast, reaching the speed of a jet. In water 2km deep they can travel at 700km per hour, and over the very deep ocean can hit 1,000km per hour.

When the wave approaches the shallower coast, its speed decreases and the height increases. A tsunami may be 1m high in the open ocean but rise to 5-10m at the coast. If the approach to the shoreline is steep, this effect is exaggerated and can create waves tens of metres high.

Despite the fact that the waves slow down near the coast, their immense starting speeds mean flat areas can be inundated for kilometres inland. The ocean floor topography affects the speed of tsunami waves, meaning they move faster over deep areas and slow down over submarine banks. Very steep land, above or below water, can even bend and reflect waves.

The coastlines of the Indonesian archipelago are accentuated, in particular in the eastern part and especially at Sulawesi. Palu has a narrow, deep and long bay: perfectly designed to make tsunamis more intense, and more deadly.

This complex configuration also makes it very difficult to model potential tsunamis, so it’s hard to issue timely and accurate warnings to people who may be affected.

Get to high ground 
 
The safest and simplest advice for people in coastal areas that have been affected by an earthquake is to get to higher ground immediately and stay there for a couple of hours. In reality, this is a rather complex problem.

Hawaii and Japan have sophisticated and efficient early warning systems. Replicating these in Indonesia is challenging, given the lack of communications infrastructure and the wide variety of languages spoken throughout the vast island archipelago.

After the 2004 Indian Ocean disaster, international efforts were made to improve tsunami warning networks in the region. Today, Indonesia’s tsunami warning system operates a network of 134 tidal gauge stations, 22 buoys connected to seafloor sensors to transmit advance warnings, land-based seismographs, sirens in about 55 locations, and a system to disseminate warnings by text message.

However, financing and supporting the early warning system in the long term is a considerable problem. The buoys alone cost around $250,000 each to install and $50,000 annually for maintenance.

The three major Indonesian agencies for responsible for earthquake and tsunami disaster mitigation have suffered from budget cuts and internal struggles to define roles and responsibilities.

Lastly, the Palu tsunami event has highlighted that our current tsunami models are insufficient. They do not properly consider multiple earthquake events, or the underwater landslides potentially caused by such quakes.

No early warning system can prevent strong earthquakes. Tsunamis and the resulting infrastructure damage and fatalities will most certainly occur in the future. But with a well-developed and reliable early warning system, and better communication and public awareness, we can minimise the tragic consequences.

With earthquakes that occur very close to the beach – often the case in Indonesia – even an ideal system could not disseminate the necessary information quickly enough. Indonesia’s geography and vulnerable coastal settlements make tsunamis more dangerous, so we need more and concerted efforts to create earthquake and tsunami-resilient communities.

(Anja Scheffers is Professor, Southern Cross University) 
 
(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-indonesias-tsunamis-are-so-deadly-104158">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

By Anja Scheffers The magnitude 7.5 earthquake, and subsequent tsunami, that struck Indonesia days ago has resulted in at least 1,400 deaths. Authorities are still gauging the extent of the damage, but it’s clear the earthquake and tsunami had a devastating effect on the Sulawesi region, particularly the city of Palu.

By Anja Scheffers The magnitude 7.5 earthquake, and subsequent tsunami, that struck Indonesia days ago has resulted in at least 1,400 deaths. Authorities are still gauging the extent of the damage, but it’s clear the earthquake and tsunami had a devastating effect on the Sulawesi region, particularly the city of Palu. It’s not the first time earthquakes have caused mass destruction and death in Indonesia. The tsunamis that follow are particularly damaging. But why? A combination of plate tectonic in the region, the shape of the coastline, vulnerable communities and a less-than-robust early warning system all combine to make Indonesian tsunamis especially dangerous. Tectonic plates Indonesia covers many complex tectonic environments. Many details of these are still poorly understood, which hampers our ability to predict earthquake and tsunami risks. The biggest earthquakes on Earth are “subduction zone” earthquakes, which occur where two tectonic plates meet. In December 2004 and March 2005, there was a pair of subduction zone earthquakes along the Sunda Trench offshore of the west coast of Sumatra. In particular, the magnitude-9.1 quake in December 2004 generated a devastating tsunami that killed almost a quarter of a million people in countries and islands surrounding the Indian Ocean. But only looking out for these kinds of earthquakes can blind us to other dangers. Eastern Indonesia has many small microplates, which are jostled around by the motion of the large Australia, Sunda, Pacific and Philippine Sea plates. The September quake was caused by what’s called a “strike-slip” fault in the interior of one of these small plates. It is rare – although not unknown – for these kinds of quakes to create tsunamis. The fault systems are rather large, and through erosion processes have created broad river valleys and estuaries. The valley of the Palu river, and its estuary in which the regional capital Palu is located, have been formed by this complex fault system. Studies of prehistoric earthquakes along this fault system suggest this fault produces magnitude 7-8 earthquakes roughly every 700 years. The seafloor shapes the wave Another important factor for tsunamis is the depth and shape of the seafloor. This determines the speed of the initial waves. Strong subduction zone earthquakes on the ocean floor can cause the entire ocean water column to lift, then plunge back down. As the water has momentum, it may fall below sea level and create strong oscillations. The bulge of water moving outward from the centre of an earthquake maybe of limited height (rarely much more than a metre), but the mass of water is extremely large (depending on the surface area moved by the earthquake). Tsunami waves can travel very fast, reaching the speed of a jet. In water 2km deep they can travel at 700km per hour, and over the very deep ocean can hit 1,000km per hour. When the wave approaches the shallower coast, its speed decreases and the height increases. A tsunami may be 1m high in the open ocean but rise to 5-10m at the coast. If the approach to the shoreline is steep, this effect is exaggerated and can create waves tens of metres high. Despite the fact that the waves slow down near the coast, their immense starting speeds mean flat areas can be inundated for kilometres inland. The ocean floor topography affects the speed of tsunami waves, meaning they move faster over deep areas and slow down over submarine banks. Very steep land, above or below water, can even bend and reflect waves. The coastlines of the Indonesian archipelago are accentuated, in particular in the eastern part and especially at Sulawesi. Palu has a narrow, deep and long bay: perfectly designed to make tsunamis more intense, and more deadly. This complex configuration also makes it very difficult to model potential tsunamis, so it’s hard to issue timely and accurate warnings to people who may be affected. Get to high ground The safest and simplest advice for people in coastal areas that have been affected by an earthquake is to get to higher ground immediately and stay there for a couple of hours. In reality, this is a rather complex problem. Hawaii and Japan have sophisticated and efficient early warning systems. Replicating these in Indonesia is challenging, given the lack of communications infrastructure and the wide variety of languages spoken throughout the vast island archipelago. After the 2004 Indian Ocean disaster, international efforts were made to improve tsunami warning networks in the region. Today, Indonesia’s tsunami warning system operates a network of 134 tidal gauge stations, 22 buoys connected to seafloor sensors to transmit advance warnings, land-based seismographs, sirens in about 55 locations, and a system to disseminate warnings by text message. However, financing and supporting the early warning system in the long term is a considerable problem. The buoys alone cost around $250,000 each to install and $50,000 annually for maintenance. The three major Indonesian agencies for responsible for earthquake and tsunami disaster mitigation have suffered from budget cuts and internal struggles to define roles and responsibilities. Lastly, the Palu tsunami event has highlighted that our current tsunami models are insufficient. They do not properly consider multiple earthquake events, or the underwater landslides potentially caused by such quakes. No early warning system can prevent strong earthquakes. Tsunamis and the resulting infrastructure damage and fatalities will most certainly occur in the future. But with a well-developed and reliable early warning system, and better communication and public awareness, we can minimise the tragic consequences. With earthquakes that occur very close to the beach – often the case in Indonesia – even an ideal system could not disseminate the necessary information quickly enough. Indonesia’s geography and vulnerable coastal settlements make tsunamis more dangerous, so we need more and concerted efforts to create earthquake and tsunami-resilient communities. (Anja Scheffers is Professor, Southern Cross University) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Why Indonesia’s tsunamis are so deadly

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/putin-set-ink-s-400-defence-deal-during-india-visit-us-warns-against-missile-pact-169213">Putin set to ink S-400 defence deal during India visit, US warns against missile pact</a>

Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit New Delhi on Thursday and meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ink the deal on S-400 air defence systems. President Putin will also participate in the 19th India-Russia annual bilateral summit, news agency ANI reported.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/american-frances-arnold-george-smith-british-researcher-gregory-winter-win-nobel-prize">American Frances Arnold, George Smith &amp; British researcher Gregory Winter win Nobel Prize in Chemistry</a>

Two American scientists - Frances Arnold and George Smith, including a British researcher Gregory Winter have won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry this year.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/entertainment/actress-fan-bingbing-fined-authorities-china-tax-evasion-169085">Chinese superstar Fan Bingbing emerges; ordered to pay $129 million for tax evasion</a>

China's taxation authorities fined A-list Chinese movie star Fan Bingbing $129 million for tax evasion, state news agency Xinhua said on Wednesday.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-deports-seven-rohingyas-myanmar-169170">Plea in Supreme Court against </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-deports-seven-rohingyas-myanmar-169170">deportation</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-deports-seven-rohingyas-myanmar-169170"> of seven Rohingyas to Myanmar</a>

A plea has been filed in Supreme Court for urgent hearing seeking a restraint on the Government of India from deporting seven Rohingya Muslims lodged in the Silchar Detention centre in Assam to Myanmar, news agency ANI reported. According to reports, the plea will be heard in the top court on Thursday.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/halt-sanctions-humanitarian-goods-iran-un-court-iran-169167">Halt sanctions on humanitarian goods to Iran: International Court of Justice to </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/halt-sanctions-humanitarian-goods-iran-un-court-iran-169167">US</a>

The International Court of Justice(ICJ) today ordered the Trump administration to halt sanctions on "humanitarian" goods to Iran.

President Trump had imposed sanctions on Iran last month after pulling out of the nuclear deal involving European allies, a second round of sanctions is due next month.

Putin set to ink S-400 defence deal during India visit, US warns against missile pact Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit New Delhi on Thursday and meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ink the deal on S-400 air defence systems.

Putin set to ink S-400 defence deal during India visit, US warns against missile pact Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit New Delhi on Thursday and meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ink the deal on S-400 air defence systems. President Putin will also participate in the 19th India-Russia annual bilateral summit, news agency ANI reported. American Frances Arnold, George Smith & British researcher Gregory Winter win Nobel Prize in Chemistry Two American scientists - Frances Arnold and George Smith, including a British researcher Gregory Winter have won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry this year. Chinese superstar Fan Bingbing emerges; ordered to pay $129 million for tax evasion China's taxation authorities fined A-list Chinese movie star Fan Bingbing $129 million for tax evasion, state news agency Xinhua said on Wednesday. Plea in Supreme Court against deportation of seven Rohingyas to Myanmar A plea has been filed in Supreme Court for urgent hearing seeking a restraint on the Government of India from deporting seven Rohingya Muslims lodged in the Silchar Detention centre in Assam to Myanmar, news agency ANI reported. According to reports, the plea will be heard in the top court on Thursday. Halt sanctions on humanitarian goods to Iran: International Court of Justice to US The International Court of Justice(ICJ) today ordered the Trump administration to halt sanctions on "humanitarian" goods to Iran. President Trump had imposed sanctions on Iran last month after pulling out of the nuclear deal involving European allies, a second round of sanctions is due next month.

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

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

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

Indonesia: Warship evacuates hundreds from quake-struck Palu

A volcano erupted on Sulawesi on Wednesday, days after an earthquake and tsunami on the Indonesian island killed more than 1,400 people.

Mount Soputan, which is about 600 kilometres northwest of Palu, spewed volcanic ash more than four kilometres into the sky according to a tweet by Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency spokesman, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho.

There were no reports of any casualties or damage. The eruption was also not expected to disrupt flights.

However, authorities told residents within a four-kilometre radius of the volcano to standby for evacuation orders while nearby communities have also been told to be prepared for volcanic ash fall.

More than 2,500 people were heavily injured in the 7.5 magnitude quake and deadly tsunami waves, the agency said.

Some remote areas have been largely cut off after quake triggered tsunami waves, destroying roads and bridges, and their losses have yet to be determined.

(With inputs from Reuters)

A volcano erupted on Sulawesi on Wednesday, days after an earthquake and tsunami on the Indonesian island killed more than 1,400 people. Mount Soputan, which is about 600 kilometres northwest of Palu, spewed volcanic ash more than four kilometres into the sky according to a tweet by Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency spokesman, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho.

A volcano erupted on Sulawesi on Wednesday, days after an earthquake and tsunami on the Indonesian island killed more than 1,400 people. Mount Soputan, which is about 600 kilometres northwest of Palu, spewed volcanic ash more than four kilometres into the sky according to a tweet by Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency spokesman, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho. There were no reports of any casualties or damage. The eruption was also not expected to disrupt flights. However, authorities told residents within a four-kilometre radius of the volcano to standby for evacuation orders while nearby communities have also been told to be prepared for volcanic ash fall. More than 2,500 people were heavily injured in the 7.5 magnitude quake and deadly tsunami waves, the agency said. Some remote areas have been largely cut off after quake triggered tsunami waves, destroying roads and bridges, and their losses have yet to be determined. (With inputs from Reuters)

Watch: Indonesia's Mount Soputan erupts on quake-hit island

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 President Joko Widodo called for reinforcements in a desperate search for survivors of a devastating earthquake and tsunami on Sulawesi island, as the official death toll rose above 1,200 on Tuesday and looting fuelled fears of lawlessness.

Officials fear the toll could soar, as most of the confirmed dead had come from Palu, a small city 1,500 km (930 miles) northeast of Jakarta, while some remote areas have been cut off since Friday's 7.5 magnitude quake triggered tsunami waves.

"There are some main priorities that we must tackle and the first is to evacuate, find and save victims who've not yet been found," Widodo told a government meeting to coordinate disaster recovery efforts on the west coast of Sulawesi.

He said he had ordered the national search and rescue agency to send more police and soldiers into the affected districts, some cut off by destroyed roads, landslides and downed bridges.

The official death toll surged to 1,234, the national disaster agency said. Nearly 800 were seriously injured.

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 video of Donggala, broadcast by the Antara state news agency, showed widespread destruction, including flattened buildings and a ship that had been hurled into port buildings by the tsunami.

"What we need is food, water, medicine, but to up now we’ve got nothing," said an unidentified man standing in ruins.

Four badly hit districts of Sulawesi, one of the archipelago nations five main islands, have a combined population of about 1.4 million.

In Palu, tsunami waves as high as six metres (20 feet) smashed into the beachfront, while hotels and shopping malls collapsed in ruins. Some neighbourhoods were swallowed up by ground liquefaction, which happens when soil shaken by an earthquake behaves like a liquid.

About 1,700 houses in one neighbourhood have disappeared beneath the mud, with hundreds of people believed buried, the national disaster agency said.

Before-and-after satellite pictures show a largely built-up neighbourhood just south of Palu's airport seemingly wiped clean of all signs of life by liquefaction.

Among those killed were 34 children at a Christian bible study camp, a Red Cross official said.

Leaving and looting

More than 65,000 homes were damaged and more than 60,000 people have been displaced and are in need of emergency help.

Thousands of people have been streaming out of stricken areas. Commercial airlines have struggled to restore operations at Palu's damaged airport but military aircraft have taken some survivors out. Many more want to leave.

Authorities have said a navy vessel capable of taking 1,000 people at a time would help with the evacuation.

The government has ordered aid supplies to be airlifted in but there's little sign of help on Palu's shattered streets and survivors appeared increasingly desperate.

A Reuters news team saw a shop cleared by about 100 people, shouting, scrambling and fighting each other for items including clothes, toiletries, blankets and water.

Many people grabbed diapers while one man clutched a rice cooker as he headed for the door. Non-essential goods were scattered on the floor amid shards of broken glass.

At least 20 police were at the scene but did not intervene. The government has played down fears of looting saying disaster victims could take essential goods and shops would be compensated later.

Indonesia is all too familiar with earthquakes and tsunamis. A quake in 2004 triggered a tsunami across the Indian Ocean that killed 226,000 people in 13 countries, including more than 120,000 in Indonesia.

It has said it would accept offers of international aid, having shunned outside help earlier this year when an earthquake struck the island of Lombok.

State port operator Pelindo IV said a ship carrying 50 tonnes of supplies including rice, eggs, noodles, mineral water and baby milk had arrived in Palu on Monday. It was unclear if the aid had been distributed.

'Buried fast'

Power has yet to be restored and aftershocks have rattled jangled nerves. But rescuers in Palu held out hope they could still save lives.

"We suspect there are still some survivors trapped inside," the head of one rescue team, Agus Haryono, told Reuters at the collapsed seven-storey Hotel Roa Roa as he pored over its blueprints.

About 50 people were believed to have been caught inside the hotel when it was brought down. About nine bodies have been recovered from the ruins and three rescued alive.

Elsewhere, on the outskirts of Palu, lorries brought 54 bodies to a mass grave dug in sandy soil.

Most of the bodies had not been claimed, a policeman said, but some relatives came to pay respects to loved ones at the 50-metre (165 ft) trench.

Rosmawati Binti Yahya, 52, was still looking for her missing daughter. But her husband was among the victims laid in the grave.

"It's OK if he's buried in the mass grave, it's better to have him buried fast," she said, as the stench from decomposing bodies filled the air.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo called for reinforcements in a desperate search for survivors of a devastating earthquake and tsunami on Sulawesi island, as the official death toll rose above 1,200 on Tuesday and looting fuelled fears of lawlessness.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo called for reinforcements in a desperate search for survivors of a devastating earthquake and tsunami on Sulawesi island, as the official death toll rose above 1,200 on Tuesday and looting fuelled fears of lawlessness. Officials fear the toll could soar, as most of the confirmed dead had come from Palu, a small city 1,500 km (930 miles) northeast of Jakarta, while some remote areas have been cut off since Friday's 7.5 magnitude quake triggered tsunami waves. "There are some main priorities that we must tackle and the first is to evacuate, find and save victims who've not yet been found," Widodo told a government meeting to coordinate disaster recovery efforts on the west coast of Sulawesi. He said he had ordered the national search and rescue agency to send more police and soldiers into the affected districts, some cut off by destroyed roads, landslides and downed bridges. The official death toll surged to 1,234, the national disaster agency said. Nearly 800 were seriously injured. 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 video of Donggala, broadcast by the Antara state news agency, showed widespread destruction, including flattened buildings and a ship that had been hurled into port buildings by the tsunami. "What we need is food, water, medicine, but to up now we’ve got nothing," said an unidentified man standing in ruins. Four badly hit districts of Sulawesi, one of the archipelago nations five main islands, have a combined population of about 1.4 million. In Palu, tsunami waves as high as six metres (20 feet) smashed into the beachfront, while hotels and shopping malls collapsed in ruins. Some neighbourhoods were swallowed up by ground liquefaction, which happens when soil shaken by an earthquake behaves like a liquid. About 1,700 houses in one neighbourhood have disappeared beneath the mud, with hundreds of people believed buried, the national disaster agency said. Before-and-after satellite pictures show a largely built-up neighbourhood just south of Palu's airport seemingly wiped clean of all signs of life by liquefaction. Among those killed were 34 children at a Christian bible study camp, a Red Cross official said. Leaving and looting More than 65,000 homes were damaged and more than 60,000 people have been displaced and are in need of emergency help. Thousands of people have been streaming out of stricken areas. Commercial airlines have struggled to restore operations at Palu's damaged airport but military aircraft have taken some survivors out. Many more want to leave. Authorities have said a navy vessel capable of taking 1,000 people at a time would help with the evacuation. The government has ordered aid supplies to be airlifted in but there's little sign of help on Palu's shattered streets and survivors appeared increasingly desperate. A Reuters news team saw a shop cleared by about 100 people, shouting, scrambling and fighting each other for items including clothes, toiletries, blankets and water. Many people grabbed diapers while one man clutched a rice cooker as he headed for the door. Non-essential goods were scattered on the floor amid shards of broken glass. At least 20 police were at the scene but did not intervene. The government has played down fears of looting saying disaster victims could take essential goods and shops would be compensated later. Indonesia is all too familiar with earthquakes and tsunamis. A quake in 2004 triggered a tsunami across the Indian Ocean that killed 226,000 people in 13 countries, including more than 120,000 in Indonesia. It has said it would accept offers of international aid, having shunned outside help earlier this year when an earthquake struck the island of Lombok. State port operator Pelindo IV said a ship carrying 50 tonnes of supplies including rice, eggs, noodles, mineral water and baby milk had arrived in Palu on Monday. It was unclear if the aid had been distributed. 'Buried fast' Power has yet to be restored and aftershocks have rattled jangled nerves. But rescuers in Palu held out hope they could still save lives. "We suspect there are still some survivors trapped inside," the head of one rescue team, Agus Haryono, told Reuters at the collapsed seven-storey Hotel Roa Roa as he pored over its blueprints. About 50 people were believed to have been caught inside the hotel when it was brought down. About nine bodies have been recovered from the ruins and three rescued alive. Elsewhere, on the outskirts of Palu, lorries brought 54 bodies to a mass grave dug in sandy soil. Most of the bodies had not been claimed, a policeman said, but some relatives came to pay respects to loved ones at the 50-metre (165 ft) trench. Rosmawati Binti Yahya, 52, was still looking for her missing daughter. But her husband was among the victims laid in the grave. "It's OK if he's buried in the mass grave, it's better to have him buried fast," she said, as the stench from decomposing bodies filled the air.

Indonesia steps up hunt for survivors as quake toll passes 1,200

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

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/indonesia-steps-hunt-survivors-quake-toll-passes-1200-168980">Indonesia steps up </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/indonesia-steps-hunt-survivors-quake-toll-passes-1200-168980">hunt</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/indonesia-steps-hunt-survivors-quake-toll-passes-1200-168980"> for survivors as quake toll passes 1,200</a>

Indonesian President Joko Widodo called for reinforcements in a desperate search for survivors of a devastating earthquake and tsunami on Sulawesi island, as the official death toll rose above 1,200 on Tuesday and looting fuelled fears of lawlessness.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/china-condemns-us-south-china-sea-freedom-navigation-operation-168987">China condemns </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/china-condemns-us-south-china-sea-freedom-navigation-operation-168987">US</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/china-condemns-us-south-china-sea-freedom-navigation-operation-168987"> for South China Sea freedom of navigation operation</a>

China expressed anger on Tuesday after a US Navy destroyer sailed near islands claimed by China in the disputed South China Sea, saying it resolutely opposed an operation that it called a threat to its sovereignty.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/least-seven-dead-suicide-attack-afghan-election-rally-168948">At least 13 dead in suicide attack on Afghan election rally</a>

At least 13 people were killed and over 40 were injured in a suicide attack on Tuesday in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, news agency Associated Press reported.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/arthur-ashkin-gerard-mourou-donna-strickland-win-nobel-prize-laser-inventions-168958">Arthur Ashkin, Gérard Mourou </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/arthur-ashkin-gerard-mourou-donna-strickland-win-nobel-prize-laser-inventions-168958">and</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/arthur-ashkin-gerard-mourou-donna-strickland-win-nobel-prize-laser-inventions-168958"> Donna Strickland share Nobel Physics Prize</a>

Three researchers on Tuesday shared the Nobel Physics Prize for inventions in the field of laser physics which have paved the way for advanced precision instruments used in industry and medicine, the jury said.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/industry/protesting-farmers-not-satisfied-govt-assurance-naresh-tikait-168974">Farmers not 'satisfied' with govt's assurance: Bharat Kisan Union chief Tikait</a>

As thousands of farmers tried to enter the national capital in a massive protest march, the government Tuesday announced that a committee of chief ministers will look into their demands, even as the protesters stayed put saying they were not "satisfied" with the assurance.

Indonesia steps up hunt for survivors as quake toll passes 1,200 Indonesian President Joko Widodo called for reinforcements in a desperate search for survivors of a devastating earthquake and tsunami on Sulawesi island, as the official death toll rose above 1,200 on Tuesday and looting fuelled fears of lawlessness.

Indonesia steps up hunt for survivors as quake toll passes 1,200 Indonesian President Joko Widodo called for reinforcements in a desperate search for survivors of a devastating earthquake and tsunami on Sulawesi island, as the official death toll rose above 1,200 on Tuesday and looting fuelled fears of lawlessness. China condemns US for South China Sea freedom of navigation operation China expressed anger on Tuesday after a US Navy destroyer sailed near islands claimed by China in the disputed South China Sea, saying it resolutely opposed an operation that it called a threat to its sovereignty. At least 13 dead in suicide attack on Afghan election rally At least 13 people were killed and over 40 were injured in a suicide attack on Tuesday in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, news agency Associated Press reported. Arthur Ashkin, Gérard Mourou and Donna Strickland share Nobel Physics Prize Three researchers on Tuesday shared the Nobel Physics Prize for inventions in the field of laser physics which have paved the way for advanced precision instruments used in industry and medicine, the jury said. Farmers not 'satisfied' with govt's assurance: Bharat Kisan Union chief Tikait As thousands of farmers tried to enter the national capital in a massive protest march, the government Tuesday announced that a committee of chief ministers will look into their demands, even as the protesters stayed put saying they were not "satisfied" with the assurance.

News brief: Big stories of the day 

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

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

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

India dispatches relief material to calamity-hit Indonesia 

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

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday called up Indonesian President Joko Widodo and offered assistance to the tsunami-hit country.

Modi offered condolences on the loss of lives in the recent earthquake and tsunami that hit the Sulawesi region of Indonesia, the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.&nbsp;

The PM appreciated the resilience and courage of the people of Indonesia in facing the challenges emanating from the wide spread devastation due to the grave natural calamity, it said.&nbsp;

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PM Narendra Modi had a telephonic conversation with the President of Indonesia Joko Widodo today offering condolences on his behalf and on behalf of the people of India on the loss of lives in the recent earthquake &amp; tsunami that hit Sulawesi region of Indonesia. (File pic) <a href="https://t.co/F49kdmt6GT">pic.twitter.com/F49kdmt6GT</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1046776592561664001?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2018</a></blockquote>
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In response to Indonesia's appeal for international aid, the Prime Minister offered to Widodo all possible assistance from India as a maritime neighbour and as a friend of Indonesia.&nbsp;

The two leaders agreed that the details of India's relief assistance will be worked out through diplomatic and official channels.&nbsp;

The massive 7.5-magnitude tremor struck Friday and sent monster waves barrelling into the island of Sulawesi, leaving at least 844 dead in the seaside city of Palu and surrounding areas.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday called up Indonesian President Joko Widodo and offered assistance to the tsunami-hit country. Modi offered condolences on the loss of lives in the recent earthquake and tsunami that hit the Sulawesi region of Indonesia, the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday called up Indonesian President Joko Widodo and offered assistance to the tsunami-hit country. Modi offered condolences on the loss of lives in the recent earthquake and tsunami that hit the Sulawesi region of Indonesia, the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement. The PM appreciated the resilience and courage of the people of Indonesia in facing the challenges emanating from the wide spread devastation due to the grave natural calamity, it said. PM Narendra Modi had a telephonic conversation with the President of Indonesia Joko Widodo today offering condolences on his behalf and on behalf of the people of India on the loss of lives in the recent earthquake & tsunami that hit Sulawesi region of Indonesia. (File pic) pic.twitter.com/F49kdmt6GT — ANI (@ANI) October 1, 2018 × In response to Indonesia's appeal for international aid, the Prime Minister offered to Widodo all possible assistance from India as a maritime neighbour and as a friend of Indonesia. The two leaders agreed that the details of India's relief assistance will be worked out through diplomatic and official channels. The massive 7.5-magnitude tremor struck Friday and sent monster waves barrelling into the island of Sulawesi, leaving at least 844 dead in the seaside city of Palu and surrounding areas.

PM Modi offers assistance to tsunami-hit Indonesia

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

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