Indonesia searches for victims as quake kills 29 in Aceh

Soldiers, police and volunteers fanned out across an earthquake-damaged region of western Indonesia on Wednesday, scouring the debris of fallen homes and landslides for possible victims of a temblor that killed at least 29 people and injured hundreds.

The magnitude-6.1 quake struck on Tuesday afternoon at a depth of just 10 kilometres and was centred on the far western tip of Sumatra island in Aceh province.

Twelve people were killed and 70 others were injured by a landslide or collapsing buildings in Bener Meriah district, said Sutopo Purwo Nugroho of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency.

Fauzi, head of the local mitigation agency, said about 600 houses and building were damaged in the district, where many residents were still staying in tents outside their homes.

“What we need right now are tents, since many people prefer to stay outside,” said Fauzi, who like many Indonesians uses a single name. “They all are afraid of aftershocks.”

In neighbouring Central Aceh district, 17 people were killed and about 350 were injured, said Subhan Sahara, head of the local mitigation agency.