“The latest information shows that 26 persons are dead within the town of Mamuju,” said Ali Rahman, head of the local disaster mitigation agency, adding that “the number may increase.”
“Many of the dead are buried under the rubble,” he said.
The national disaster agency also said not less than eight people died in Majene, a district south of Mamuju, bringing the whole death toll to 37.
Rescuers were looking for several patients and staff trapped under the rubble of the razed Mamuju Hospital.
“The hospital is razed to the ground, it has collapsed. Patients and hospital workers are trapped under the rubble and we are now trying to reach them,” said Arianto of an emergency agency in the city of Mamuju, known by one name.
At least 62 houses, a public health center and a military office were destroyed in Mamuju, said Raditya Jati, spokeswoman for the National Disaster Mitigation Agency. The landslides occurred in three locations and blocked the main road connecting Mamuju with Majene district, he said, adding that the agency was still collecting data from the earthquake-affected areas.
In Majene, at least 218 people were injured and more than 300 homes and buildings were damaged, including health clinics, hotels and offices, said the head of the district disaster agency, Sirajuddin.
He said about 10,000 people are currently staying in several temporary shelters.
The quake did not trigger a tsunami warning, but Indonesian Meteorology and Geophysics Agency chief Dwikorita Karnawati told a news conference there could be strong aftershocks, with the possibility that another powerful quake could trigger a tsunami.
He added that there had been at least 26 aftershocks in the area over the past day.
In a video released by the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, a girl trapped in the wreckage of the house screamed for help and claimed her mother was alive but unable to move out.
“Please help me,” the girl told the rescuers, who responded that they really desired to help her.
In the video, rescuers said an excavator was needed to save lots of them. Other photos within the video showed a broken bridge and houses destroyed and even flattened.
My children… are trapped inside. Please help
Another video shows a father shouting for help to save lots of children buried under tons of rubble in his house. “My children… are trapped inside, please help,” he cried in panic.
Videos on social media showed residents fleeing on motorcycles to higher ground and a baby trapped under the rubble as people tried to clear the rubble with their bare hands.
On Thursday, a 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck under the ocean in the identical region, damaging several houses but causing no visible casualties.
The powerful 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami killed 230,000 people in a dozen countries, most of them in Indonesia.
Additional reporting by French Media Agency, Associated Press and Reuters
This article appeared within the print edition of the South China Morning Post as: At least 42 people died in an earthquake on the island of Sulawesi
