Earthquake strikes Indonesia's Java island | World News | News.com.au
* At least 15 killed in earthquake
* Dozens injured, homes collapsed
* Rated at 7.0 magnitude
DEATH toll is set to soar as at least 15 people have been killed and dozens injured after an earthquake strikes Indonesia's Java island today.
Priyadi Kardono, an official at the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, warned the death toll could be much higher, as scores of houses and office buildings had collapsed or suffered severe damage.
"Communications with the coastal areas were completely cut, so we don't know the conditions there. No reports have come from those areas, although we assume those were the most affected ones. It's possible the death toll could grow higher," he said.
The quake - rated at 7.0-magnitude - shook the island, sparking panic in the capital Jakarta and triggering a small tsunami, officials said.
The quake struck less than 200 kilometres south of Jakarta at a depth of 49 kilometres, the US Geological Survey said, revising the strength down from 7.4-magnitude reported earlier.
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"We all ran out in panic, we didn't even put our sandals on," said Muharaham Ardan, a university lecturer from Tasikmalaya.
"Many houses are flattened to the ground," said Edi Sapuan in Margamukti village, not far from Tasikmalaya.
"Only the wooden houses remain standing. Many villagers are injured, covered in blood."
"We ran as soon as the quake hit. Then five minutes later my house collapsed," Edi told Reuters.
Ardan told the Associated Press it was the biggest quake he had ever felt. "The neighbors were shouting: 'Get out of the house! Get out of the house!"
People fled shopping centres and were evacuated from office towers in Jakarta as buildings swayed violently for at least a minute just after 3pm local time.
Health ministry crisis centre chief Rustam Pakaya said 18 people had been hospitalised in Jakarta with light injuries.
"It was very scary. The floor was swaying and I heard loud sounds from the upper floor, like something was going to collapse," student Rini, 18, said after she fled the Grand Indonesia shopping centre in the heart of Jakarta.
"People were screaming and I quickly took off my high heels and ran as fast as I could to get out of the mall."
Meteorology and Geophysics Agency technical chief Suharjono said a tsunami warning issued after the quake had been lifted.
"We issued a tsunami warning but we've removed it after some observation. There was a tsunami in the sea off Tasikmalaya but it was only 20 centimetres high, it was insignificant," Suharjono said.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said there was the possibility of a local tsunami that could affect coasts within 100 kilometres of the epicentre but said there was no threat of a destructive widespread tsunami.
It later said that no significant tsunami was generated.
Dorus Susanto, 26, a receptionist at a hotel in the town of Batu Karas on Java's southern coast, said people ran outside as part of the hotel's roof collapsed.
"The mosque has been damaged and a few houses have been damaged too," she said.
Panicked Muslim worshippers in Tasikmalaya were sent fleeing from a mosque, which was left cracked and teetering, the Antara news agency reported.
- With AFP, Reuters.
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