Earthquake in Indonesia
Rescue teams struggled on Thursday to find people trapped under debris after a powerful earthquake hit the Indonesian city of Padang, possibly killing thousands.
The 7.6 magnitude quake struck the bustling port city of 900,000 people on Wednesday, toppling hundreds of buildings. Telephone connections were patchy, making it hard for officials to work out the extent of destruction and loss of life.
"We need aid as soon as possible. We need food and medicine. Our houses have collapsed," said Siti, a resident of Padang, capital of West Sumatra province.
"There are people still trapped inside after their houses collapsed."
Health Minister Siti Fadillah Supari told reporters at an airport in Jakarta before leaving for Padang that the number of victims "could be more (than hundreds or thousands). I think it's more than thousands, if we look at how widespread the damage is. But we don't really know yet".
The national disaster agency put the confirmed death toll at 220. Officials said 500 houses had collapsed.
(Information taken from Reuters news website).