PALU, Indonesia (AFP) — The Indonesian government calls for international help to deal with the aftermath of a devastating series on earthquakes and a tsunami in the island region of Sulawesi that killed at least 832 people.
Asia
Dozens hurt as typhoon Trami hammers Japan
by Hiroshi HIYAMA / Richard CARTER Agence France Presse TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — A powerful typhoon sliced through Japan after making landfall Sunday evening, injuring dozens, halting transport, and bringing fierce winds and torrential rain to areas already battered by a string of recent extreme weather episodes. Typhoon Trami sparked travel disruption in the world’s third-biggest economy, with bullet train services suspended, more than 1,000 flights canceled and Tokyo’s evening train services scrapped. National broadcaster […]
Crumpled hotel becomes focus in Indonesia rescue effort
PALU, Indonesia (AFP) — Squads of orange-clad rescue workers clambered over the tangled remains of an Indonesian hotel Sunday, hoping to dig out 50 to 60 guests still feared trapped by an earthquake-tsunami disaster. Authorities believe the 80-room Hotel Roa-Roa in the city of Palu on Sulawesi island was near capacity when the district was ravaged by a 7.5 magnitude quake and a tsunami wave Friday. “It is assumed there are still 50 to […]
Death toll in Indonesia quake-tsunami tops 800
by Harry Pearl Agence France Presse PALU, Indonesia (AFP) — The death toll from a powerful earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia leapt to 832 Sunday, as stunned people on the stricken island of Sulawesi struggled to find food and water and looting spread. The new toll announced by the national disaster agency was almost double the previous figure. Indonesian vice-president Jusuf Kalla said the final number of dead could be in the “thousands” as […]
After leaving PHL, powerful typhoon Trami batters Okinawa, churns to Japan mainland
by Quentin Tyberghien/ Behrouz Mehri Agence France Presse SHIBUSHI, Japan (AFP) — A powerful typhoon pummelled Japan’s southern island of Okinawa Saturday, injuring at least 17, as weather officials warned the storm would rip through the Japanese archipelago over the weekend. Typhoon Trami, packing maximum gusts of 216 kilometres (134 miles) per hour near its centre, was forecast to hit the mainland early Sunday and cause extreme weather across the country into Monday. Television […]
Hundreds killed in Indonesia quake-tsunami
by Ola Gondronk Agence France Presse PALU, Indonesia (AFP) — Nearly 400 people were killed when a powerful quake sent a tsunami barrelling into the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, officials said Saturday, as hospitals struggled to cope with hundreds of injured and rescuers scrambled to reach the stricken region. The national disaster agency put the official death toll so far at 384, all of them in the tsunami-struck city of Palu, but warned […]
Indonesian city hit by tsunami after powerful quake
MAKASSAR, Indonesia (AFP) — A powerful earthquake hit central Indonesia on Friday, causing a tsunami that slammed into a city on Sulawesi island with officials saying the tremor had levelled “many” buildings. The shallow 7.5 magnitude quake sparked terror among locals who fled into the streets and raced to higher ground fearing tsunami waves. The disaster agency briefly issued a tsunami warning before lifting it. But dramatic video footage filmed from the top floor of […]
Indonesia rocked by powerful quake; tsunami warning called off
Indonesia was struck by a powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake Friday, the US Geological Survey said, but there were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries. The country’s national disaster agency briefly issued a tsunami warning before cancelling it. The strong quake hit central Sulawesi island at a shallow depth of some 10 kilometres (six miles), just hours after a smaller quake killed at least one person in the same part of the country. The latest quake […]
Vietnam growth slows in third quarter
HANOI, Vietnam (AFP) — Vietnam’s growth slowed in the third quarter, data showed Friday, with a warning that the export-led economy could soon be caught up in Donald Trump’s trade war with China. Vietnam is one of Asia’s fastest growing economies — GDP growth has topped five percent over the past five years — largely driven by the export of cheap goods such as Adidas trainers, Intel computer processors and Samsung phones. Though it is […]
Strong, shallow quake strikes Indonesia
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — A strong and shallow earthquake with a 6.1 magnitude struck central Indonesia Friday, geologists said, but no tsunami warning was issued. The quake was centered around 18 kilometers (11 miles) deep, just off the coast of Sulawesi island, the US Geological Survey said. There were no immediate reports of damage and Indonesia’s meteorology, climatology and geophysics agency (BMKG) said there was no risk of a tsunami. Indonesia is one of the […]
Very strong’ typhoon Trami churns towards Japan
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — A large, very strong typhoon churned towards Japan Friday, with the weather agency warning the storm would rip through the nation over the weekend, bringing violent winds and torrential rain. Typhoon Trami, packing gusts of a maximum 162 kilometers (100 miles) per hour near its center, was in the Pacific spiraling slowly towards Japan’s southern islands. “As it is forecast to go across Japan at a high speed, we are urging […]
Death toll climbs in Nigeria flooding: relief agency
ABUJA, Nigeria (AFP) — Nearly 200 people have died in flooding caused by heavy seasonal rains across 12 states in Nigeria, the country’s main relief agency said on Thursday. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said 199 people had lost their lives after the main Niger and Benue rivers burst their banks. A national disaster has been declared in the central states of Kogi, where the two rivers meet, and Niger, plus Delta and Anambra […]
