Close-up of the terrifying tsunami that killed at least 48 people
A 7.7 magnitude earthquake on September 28 triggered a tsunami in the city of Palu, Sulawesi island, Indonesia, killing at least 48 people.
| Close-up of the tsunami that devastated Palu. |
Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency said on the morning of September 29 that at least 48 bodies had been found. The death toll is certain to rise after the search and rescue operation is completed.
Tsunami waves 2-3 meters high devastated the city of Palu late last night after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck near Sulawesi island.
A smaller quake struck before the quake, destroying several homes, killing one person and injuring at least 10, local officials said.
Amateur footage aired on local television showed the tsunami carrying black water sweeping away houses along the Palu coast.
“The bodies of the victims were found in many places, in the rubble of collapsed houses or tsunamis. We are still gathering information,” Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman for Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency, said on September 29.
Earlier, Dr Komang Adi Sujendra told Metro TV that 30 people were killed and their bodies had been taken to hospital. Twelve injured people needed orthopedic surgery.
The scene of devastation is still today in Palu after the tsunami, the city is flooded, a bridge collapsed, there are many large cracks on the road, and buildings are badly damaged.
More than 600,000 people live in Palu and the town of Donggala, closest to the epicenter of yesterday's earthquake.
