Indonesia quake toll jumps to 97 as more bodies found in rubble

07 December, Meureddu

The death toll from a powerful earthquake that struck western Indonesia Wednesday has nearly doubled to 97, the military said, as more bodies were pulled from the rubble of scores of shattered buildings.

The shallow 6.5-magnitude quake struck Pidie Jaya district in Aceh province at dawn as many in the mainly Muslim region on Sumatra island were preparing for morning prayers.

The death toll has steadily climbed as rescue crews search, often by hand, through the homes, mosques and shops reduced to ruins. Aceh Military Chief Tatang Sulaiman said so far 97 people have been killed and the number keeps growing.

He added that more than 1,000 soldiers and about 900 police have been deployed to the worst-hit areas to set up shelters and evacuation points.

A huge undersea earthquake in 2004 triggered a tsunami that engulfed parts of Aceh and other countries around the Indian Ocean, killing more than 170,000 people in Indonesia alone.

India Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the loss of lives in Indonesia Earthquake. In a tweet message, Mr. Modi has said that our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Aceh over the calamity today. India stands ready to render any assistance required.