Earthquake in Indonesia damages buildings and forces evacuation of hospitals

Roof of building is destroyed after earthquake in Indonesia.
Josua Marunduh / AP
A 6.7 magnitude earthquake shook part of the island of Sulawesi in central Indonesia on Tuesday, causing scattered damage and frightening residents of a city devastated by an earthquake and tsunami eight years ago.
The strong tremor sent people fleeing to open areas in and around Palu, a city of about 400,000 inhabitants and capital of the province of Central Sulawesi. Several hospitals evacuated patients outside, some with IV bags, as a safety measure.
Images from the area showed heavily damaged structures with partially collapsed roofs, destroyed walls and rubble scattered across the streets. The National Disaster Management Agency said information about the damage, possible victims and displaced people was still being gathered.
"We evacuated all hotel guests, including some who remained in their rooms," said Effendi Natali, general manager of a four-star hotel in Palu.
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"Everyone panicked, which is a natural reaction during an earthquake, but everyone is safe," Natali said, adding that the hotel only suffered damage smaller.
The initial earthquake was centered 43 kilometers (27 miles) east-southeast of Palu, and the US Geological Survey said it occurred about 10 kilometers (6 miles) deep. Several aftershocks followed, with the strongest measuring 5.2.
People also moved away from coastal areas as a precaution in case the earthquake triggered a tsunami. Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency said there was no danger of a tsunami, but warned that aftershocks could continue.
"The shaking from the earthquake was extremely strong," said Palu resident Muhtar Ahmad. "We are still traumatized by the previous earthquake, so we chose to remain outside as we are afraid that the aftershocks will continue."
Indonesia is crossed by several seismic faults, and earthquakes and volcanic activity are common.
Patients are evacuated outside a local hospital after an earthquake in Palu, Indonesia.
Taufan Bustan / AP
Many Sulawesi residents are Haunted by the 7.5-magnitude earthquake that devastated Palu in 2018, triggering a 3-meter (10-foot) high tsunami and a phenomenon called liquefaction, in which the ground collapses in on itself. More than 4,000 people died, including many who were buried when entire neighborhoods were swallowed by the sinking earth.
In January 2021, a 6.2 magnitude earthquake near the city of Mamuju on the island of Sulawesi left at least 100 people dead, with thousands of people sleeping outdoors for days for fear of aftershocks.

Source: G1