Thousands Feared Trapped in Sumatra Quake

[Louisiana1976]

PADANG, Indonesia, Sept 30 (Reuters) - A powerful earthquake struck off the city of Padang on Indonesia's Sumatra island on Wednesday, killing at least 21 people and trapping thousands under rubble, an official said.

The quake caused widespread panic across the city of 900,000 people, and a hospital in Padang collapsed, said Rustam Pakaya, the head of the health ministry's disaster centre in Jakarta.

At least 21 people had been killed and "thousands of people are trapped in the rubble of buildings", Pakaya said.

TV footage showed devastation, with piles of rubble and smashed houses. Metro Television reported the roof of Padang airport had collapsed and other media said hotels were damaged.

The 7.6 magnitude quake was felt around the region, with some high-rise buildings in Singapore, 440 km (275 miles) to the northeast, evacuating staff. Office buildings also shook in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur.

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more...http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/09/30/world/international-quake-indonesia.html?_r=1&hp