The death toll from Aceh earthquake in Indonesia has risen to 97. National Disaster Mitigation Agencys’ spokesman said the toll could further rise as people are believed trapped in the debris of collapsed buildings.
Addressing a news conference he said earthquake caused extensive damage to buildings as more than 200 shop houses and dwellings either severely damaged or flattened.
The spokesman said some 30,000 students classes were disrupted due to the quake.
The quake struck just before dawn in the regency of Pidie Jaya, about 120 kilometres south-east of the city of Banda Aceh.
The pre-dawn quake was felt for about 15 seconds and by the time it was over around 100 buildings had collapsed including 72 combined shops and dwellings, 15 houses, five mosques, a petrol station and a school.
Major General Tatang Suliaman told local media the toll had jumped to 97 after rescuers pulled more bodies from the rubble.
He said there could be four or five people still buried, but did not say whether they were alive.
“Hopefully we would be able to finish the evacuation from the rubble before sunset,” he said.
The local hospital in Pidie Jaya was damaged, and survivors are being sent to Banda Aceh for treatment.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo said senior members of his staff would travel to the areas worst-hit by the quake.
“This morning I received a report about the earthquake and I’ve already ordered all agencies to take action according to their authority,” he said.
“And soon the chief of presidential staff will be going there.”
Regency head Aiyub Abbas said that heavy equipment had been brought into the area to help move the rubble to search for survivors.
“I’m told that most places in Pidie are impacted, most of the shops are collapsed, wiped out, mosques are completely down,” he said.