Sumatran quakes kill 70

At least 70 people were killed and scores more injured when two powerful earthquakes hit the Indonesian island of Sumatra.The government has sent in the military to assist with rescue efforts. Dozens of people are still believed to be trapped under the rubble of flattened buildings.Buildings swayed as far away as Singapore and people in Malaysia also reported feeling the quake."Seventy people have been killed. The president has contacted the (West Sumatra) governor directly and right now evacuation process by the military and police is underway," Indonesia's cabinet secretary Sudi Silalahi said.Hospitals in some areas are overwhelmed with dozens of injured and fears of aftershocks pushed authorities in Padang to set up emergency tents in a football field.Government officials began to rush aid to affected people, but a key road connecting Batu Sangkar and Padang was badly damaged hampering aid distribution.The first quake of magnitude 6.3 was felt in the West Sumatra provincial capital of Padang at around 11 am, sparking panic among seaside residents who feared it might trigger a tsunami.A second 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck the same area two hours later, causing more panic.But there was no immediate tsunami warning after the quakes, which were on land.Padang is one of the few Indonesian cities where a tsunami warning system is in place.© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.

ITN | March 6, 2007

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