Indonesia’s Padang quake kills over 500
A powerful 7.6 magnitude earthquake rocked the city of Padang, capital of the West Sumatra province in Indonesia on Wednesday night. The death toll currently stands at 529, with hundreds more believed to be trapped under the rubble of homes, schools and hospitals. Continuing heavy rain has triggered further landslides, threatening to increase the death toll.
Hundreds of people have been seriously injured and rescue teams continue to find survivors under the debris. However with severely affected telephone communications, the extent of the destruction is yet to be determined. A second earthquake which hit Sumatra Island today, created further panic and hampered the already fragile relief efforts.
Muslim Aid emergency relief teams are currently on the ground carrying out essential needs assessments. We are liaising with UN relief agencies to co-ordinate an emergency response alongside our teams, and hundreds of volunteers have been mobilised for action.
Head of Emergency Programmes at Muslim Aid, Mohammed Bali said, “People are in urgent need of your support. Our priority is to provide clean water, food and temporary shelter to the survivors of the earthquake. Funds are urgently needed to distribute emergency relief so we can continue to save lives. Your donations are urgently needed.”