Travel Tips

Powerful Indonesian Earthquake Wreaks More Havoc in Pacific Region

Earthquake DamageA powerful aftershock rocked Indonesia Thursday less than 24 hours after the initial quake that killed more than 500 people.

The first earthquake, which was 7.6 magnitude, leveled buildings, destroyed bridges and caused widespread power and phone outages, making it difficult for officials to evaluate the damage and help survivors.

This is just the latest natural disaster for a South Pacific region already reeling from tsunamis and typhoons.

A second 6.8 magnitude quake struck Thursday morning while many residents were still digging through the rubble to search for survivors.

Thousands may still be trapped by fallen structures. Without reliable estimates on who is missing, officials fear the death toll could only continue to climb.

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The quake the West Sumatra capital of Padang the hardest, killing 376 people.

Hawaiian surfersPadang beach is a popular stop for tourists traveling between the West Sumatran highlands and other nearby surf spots. With buildings toppled and no electricity, many families and some visitors will have to spend the night outdoors in the pitch black.

When residents in Padang and other nearby cities felt the initial tremors, many ran for higher ground, fearing it would trigger a tsunami. Fortunately, fears of a tsunami were soon dismissed.

On Tuesday, a tsunami caused by an 8.0 magnitude earthquake killed more than 100 people in the Samoan islands.

Get the latest news on this disaster with Post-Tsunami Recovery Efforts Being in Samoan Islands & American Samoa.

Scientists think it unlikely that the earthquakes in Indonesia and Samoa were related as their epicenters were nearly 5,000 miles apart.

They are both located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, the most seismically active region in the world. About 90 percent of the world’s earthquakes occur in this region, including 80 percent of the world’s largest earthquakes.

By Dan Bence for PeterGreenberg.com.

Related links: CNN, NPR

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