Tsunami kills 113 In Western Indonesia

JAKARTA - A POWERFUL earthquake triggered a 3m-high tsunami that pounded remote island villages in western Indonesia, killing at least 113 people and leaving up to 500 missing, an official said yesterday.

A group of foreigners - nine Australians and a Japanese - in an area popular with surfers were reported missing earlier yesterday. But they were found late last night, unharmed.
The magnitude 7.7 earthquake, which struck in the Mentawai Islands area west of Padang on Sumatra late on Monday, swept away 10 villages, officials said.

Casualty numbers and reports of damage are likely to climb once rescuers reach the affected areas. But strong winds and rough sea conditions are hampering the rescue effort.

See also: Magnitude 7.7 Quake Strikes Near Sumatra