Earthquakes Hit Palu: 48 People Died, 350 Injured

Palu, MINA – The first in a series of tremors was felt at 3 p.m. (4 a.m. ET) 35 miles north of Palu, according to the United States Geological Survey. The largest shock with a magnitude of 7.5 was detected 50 miles north of Palu on Friday (28/9), according to USGS.

The shaking of the 7.5-magnitude tremor was “severe” and the likely damage following the quake “moderate to heavy,” the USGS said.

At least 48 people died, and 350 people were injured. Thousands of buildings were destroyed by the 7.5-magnitude earthquake, according to Indonesia’s Disaster Management Agency (BNPB).

An early tsunami warning had been issued by the Indonesian meteorological agency, but was later lifted after the agency ascertained that the water had receded.

BNPB spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho shared a video on Twitter of the tsunami striking the coast at Palu. “Tsunami was about three meters high,” Nugroho wrote.

Troops from the Indonesian National Armed Forces were being deployed to help deal with the effects of the earthquake and tsunami, according to the BNPB.(LT/R04/RS5)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)