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Indonesian Rescuers Search for Quake Survivors


Indonesian rescue teams are searching for victims buried under the rubble of buildings that collapsed in an earthquake on Sumatra island, killing at least 52 people.

Earlier reports said 70 people died in the disaster, but officials said Wednesday that some of the victims were counted twice.

Hospitals and other medical facilities are overwhelmed by hundreds of people injured in Tuesday's 6.3 magnitude earthquake and equally strong aftershock.

Government and aid groups are sending relief to the thousands of displaced Indonesians. However, some victims say they have not yet received any help.

Rescue workers are using heavy equipment to help clear up debris and knock down unstable buildings. Many died from falling buildings during the temblor.

The earthquakes struck about 50 kilometers from West Sumatra's provincial capital, Padang.

Hundreds of survivors spent the night in schools, mosques and tents, some because their homes were destroyed, others because they feared more earthquakes.

Many people headed to higher ground, fearing a repeat of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that killed about 230,000 people across the region.

No tsunami followed Tuesday's quake.

People in Malaysia reported feeling the quake, hundreds of kilometers away from the epicenter. Singapore also felt the temblors, prompting the evacuation of several buildings.

Indonesia is made up of about 17,000 islands and sits on what is called the Pacific Ring of Fire, an arc of volcanos and fault lines along the edge of the Pacific Ocean.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

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