VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

At least three people died while 24 others suffered injuries in a 6.2-magnitude earthquake ensued by several aftershocks that rattled Majene District, West Sulawesi, on early Friday, according to Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).

The powerful earthquake, whose epicenter was located on land, six kilometers northeast of Majene District, at a depth of 10 kilometers, also compelled some two thousand locals to flee in pursuit of refuge at safer areas, the agency's spokesperson, Raditya Jati, stated.

The shallow quake, which the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) believe was caused by the local fault, also destroyed several buildings, including the governor's office, a military office, and Maleo Hotel, Jati remarked.

The earthquake, which also damaged 62 houses and a public health center, additionally triggered three landslides along the Majene-Mamuju road section and disrupted the transportation of people and goods, Jati revealed.

Earthquakes regularly hit various parts of Indonesia since the country lies on the Circum-Pacific Belt, also known as the Ring of Fire, where several tectonic plates meet and cause frequent volcanic and seismic activities.

One of the deadliest earthquakes rattling eastern Indonesia occurred in several areas of Central Sulawesi Province on September 28, 2018.

The 7.4-magnitude earthquake followed by a tsunami that hit the areas of Palu City and the districts of Donggala, Paringi Moutong, and Sigi on Sept 28, 2018, claimed 2,102 lives, injured 4,612, and rendered 680 others missing.

A total of 68,451 homes were seriously damaged, while 78,994 people were displaced.

The authorities and humanitarian workers decided to bury a large number of rotting corpses in mass graves.

Meanwhile, material losses inflicted by the twin deadly disasters were estimated to reach Rp15.29 trillion.

The provincial capital of Palu bore the brunt of the disaster, with material damage and losses recorded at Rp7.6 trillion, or 50 percent of the total estimate, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).

The material damage and losses in Sigi District were recorded at Rp4.9 trillion, or 32.1 percent; Donggala District, at Rp2.1 trillion, or 13.8 percent; and Parigi Moutong District, at Rp631 billion, or 4.1 percent.

The material damage in the four affected areas reached an estimated Rp13.27 trillion, while the material losses were reportedly around Rp2.02 trillion, the agency revealed in October 2018. (antaranews)