The US Geological Survey says another earthquake, measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale, has hit the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
The quake comes less than a day after a 7.6-magnitude quake in the same area, which killed hundreds of people and destroyed large parts of the region’s capital Padang.
The earlier quake struck in the early evening almost 50 kilometres off Padang, a coastal city of about 900,000 people.
Indonesian officials say they fear the death toll from the first earthquake last night could soar into the thousands.
The airport in Padang reopened this morning, with Indonesian ministers and officials going to the area, as well as journalists and aid workers. But only large planes are able to land at this stage.
The key issue will be getting the heavy machinery into Pandang and also to clear the landslides around the city.
The roads are reportedly cut off in the main city. Houses have also been destroyed in Pariaman, north of Padang.
Inland landslides have buried more dwellings and cut off roads, making it difficult for much-needed heavy machinery to reach affected areas.
via Sumatra rocked by second quake – ABC News Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
