China News Service, January 16 According to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), a magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Sulawesi, Indonesia in the early morning of the 15th local time.
At present, the earthquake has killed at least 42 people, injured hundreds of people, and displaced thousands of people.
Officials worry that as rescue work continues, the death toll will increase.
According to previous reports, Majene County, where the epicenter of the earthquake is located, and Mamuju, the capital of West Sulawesi Province, which are dozens of kilometers apart, were seriously affected.
Buildings including provincial government office buildings, hospitals, hotels, etc. were severely damaged in the earthquake, and a large number of private houses collapsed.
In the early morning of January 15, local time, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake occurred in West Sulawesi Province, Indonesia, causing a large number of houses to be destroyed and collapsed.
The picture shows the Mamu State in West Sulawesi Province. People gather in front of the damaged governor's office.
Indonesian officials said that a five-story hospital in Mamuju partially collapsed on the 15th, killing 8 people and evacuating approximately 60 people from the hospital.
"The incident happened very quickly, about 10 seconds." A local police spokesperson said that during the earthquake, there was also a power outage in the hospital.
Officials worry that as rescue work continues, the death toll will increase.
The Indonesian authorities also warned that there may be strong aftershocks after the earthquake and may still trigger a tsunami.
In the early morning of January 15, local time, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake occurred in West Sulawesi Province, Indonesia, causing a large number of houses to be destroyed and collapsed.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo expressed condolences to the victims, urged people to remain calm, and urged the authorities to increase search and rescue efforts.
He instructed the country's disaster reduction director, social affairs minister, and search and rescue chief to rush to the earthquake area to organize and direct rescue efforts to search and rescue survivors.
Currently, a rescue team composed of Indonesian National Disaster Reduction Agency, Search and Rescue Bureau, National Army, police, local health department, and volunteers is conducting a comprehensive search and rescue.
Rescue agencies said that heavy rescue equipment such as food, tents, blankets and cushions, tarps, masks, medical equipment, medicines, and excavators were in urgent need of disaster areas.