Indonesia strong quake forces over 10,000 to flee home

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PIDIE JAYA: A total of 10,301 people have escaped Wednesday’s powerful quake in Aceh province of western Indonesia, according to a data center of the disaster agency on Friday.

The 6.4 magnitude quake had damaged nearly 11,000 houses and buildings in Pidie Jaya district, the hardest hit area.

“Most of the internally displaced persons have taken shelters in makeshift tents, mosques, and relative houses,” Yusmazi, head of emergency unit at disaster agency in Pidie Jaya district told Xinhua at the center.

The shallow quake had also destroyed 146 mosques, five bridges, one school building and 14,000 roads, the data from the center revealed.

Dozens of tents have been distributed to the quake affected areas and dozens others are being transported, Rafiati, head of social department in Pedie Jaya district told Xinhua.

The quake had also damaged clean water facilities in the districts and triggered diseases, Yusmazi said.

Over 100 people were killed by the quake and around 700 others injured, according to national disaster management agency.

At least 20 aftershocks have occurred in the province and are still taking place occasionally on Friday.