
Death toll from multiple- powerful quakes and an ensuing tsunami striking Central Sulawesi province of Indonesia on September 28 jumped to 1,948 on Monday and more than 5,000 others went missing, according to a disaster agency official in Jakarta.
The number of people severely injured by the catastrophes climbed to 10,679, spokesman of the national disaster management agency Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said.
The quakes and tsunami forced a total of 74,444 people to flee home and take shelter in 147 evacuation centers as the deadly disaster destroyed 65,733 houses and 2,736 schools buildings, Sutopo added.
Scores of health facilities and some health clinics were also devastated, he said.
Most of the missing are believed to remain being buried in residential areas located in Balaroa and Petobo, due to a phenomenon called "liquefaction" during the quakes and soil movement, Sutopo said.
Powerful and shallow under-earth quakes of 6.0-, 7.4- and 6.1-magnitudes that triggered a tsunami devastated the province on Sept. 28, with the hardest-hit area being in Palu city and Donggala district.
Fire brigade in Shanghai holds group wedding
Tourists enjoy ice sculptures in Datan Town, north China
Sunset scenery of Dayan Pagoda in Xi'an
Tourists have fun at scenic spot in Nanlong Town, NW China
Harbin attracts tourists by making best use of ice in winter
In pics: FIS Alpine Ski Women's World Cup Slalom
Black-necked cranes rest at reservoir in Lhunzhub County, Lhasa
China's FAST telescope will be available to foreign scientists in April
"She power" plays indispensable role in poverty alleviation
Top 10 world news events of People's Daily in 2020
Top 10 China news events of People's Daily in 2020
Top 10 media buzzwords of 2020
Year-ender:10 major tourism stories of 2020
No interference in Venezuelan issues
Biz prepares for trade spat
Broadcasting Continent
Australia wins Chinese CEOs as US loses