The Latest: Indonesia disaster death toll climbs to 1,763

FAN Editor

The Latest on the earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia (all times local):

3:30 p.m.

Indonesia’s disaster agency says the death toll from the earthquake and tsunami that struck Sulawesi island has risen to 1,763, with more than 5,000 feared missing.

Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho says officials are trying to confirm the number still missing in several villages obliterated when the quake caused loose soil to liquefy, sucking houses into deep mud and burying occupants.

He provided the updated figure Sunday at a news conference in Jakarta.

The twin disasters struck Palu and surrounding districts in Central Sulawesi province on Sept. 28

———

12:40 p.m.

Christians dressed in their tidiest clothes are flocking to Sunday sermons in the earthquake and tsunami damaged Indonesian city of Palu, hoping for answers to the double tragedy that inflicted deep trauma on their community.

Protestants, Catholics and Charismatics make up about 10 percent of the population of Palu, where neighborhoods and miles of coastline were obliterated by the Sept. 28 quake and tsunami.

Min Kapala says she came to the city of more than 25 churches from an outlying area because her usual house of worship was destroyed.

Lucky Malonda, the pastor at a protestant church in Palu, says the intensity of the disaster had taken even scientists by surprise and called it the will of God.

Free America Network Articles

Leave a Reply

Next Post

Cameroon goes to the polls as Biya seeks to extend 36-year rule

Electoral workers prepare the polling station where President Paul Biya will cast his ballot in Sunday’s presidential election in Yaounde, Cameroon October 6, 2018. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra October 7, 2018 By Edward McAllister YAOUNDE (Reuters) – Polls opened in Cameroon on Sunday for an election widely expected to extend the 36-year […]