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08:31 GMT, Friday, 14 September 2007 09:31 UK

Aftershocks rock Indonesia island

A man runs away during an after shock in Argamakmur, Sumatra on 13 September 2007

Aftershocks are continuing to rock the Indonesian island of Sumatra, following major earthquakes earlier this week.

A temblor with a magnitude of 6.9 struck off the island's west coast on Friday, prompting officials to briefly issue another tsunami warning.

The aftershock was 153km (95 miles) southwest of Bengkulu, the area hardest hit by the series of quakes.

At least 13 people are known to have died and thousands more have been left homeless by the earthquakes.

The first earthquake, on Wednesday evening, had a magnitude of 8.4, making it the world's strongest this year.

It was followed by a 7.8 magnitude quake and a series of shocks. A number of tsunami warnings have been issued and lifted.

See where the earthquakes hit

The damage is still being assessed but officials say it appears not to be as extensive as initially feared.

No vehicles

The worst of the destruction is in the areas around the cities of Bengkulu and Padang, on Sumatra's west coast.

Hundreds of buildings are reported to have collapsed.

Animated guide: Earthquakes

Deadly history of quakes

Earthquake graphic

The BBC's Lucy Williamson, in Bengkulu, says the aftershocks are frightening people, especially in areas to the north of the province where up to 80% of the houses have been destroyed.

The local government has begun delivering food and tents to those sleeping outside, but its relief effort is suffering from a lack of vehicles to carry the aid.

Less than a third of areas in the badly-hit north Bengkulu district have so far been reached and tents are being restricted to five for each area of the district, our correspondent says.

Several international aid agencies have already pledged thousands of dollars in emergency aid.

But Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said that an aerial survey of the area had shown that overall damage was "minimal".

Wednesday's earthquake was one of the most powerful in Indonesia since the tremor that caused the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004.

That measured 8.9 and struck under the sea near the northern Sumatran province of Aceh, triggering a tsunami that killed more than 220,000 people around the rim of the Indian Ocean.

WHERE THE EARTHQUAKES HIT


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Related to this story:
Rescuers assess quake-hit Sumatra (13 Sep 07 |  Asia-Pacific )
Eyewitnesses: Sumatra earthquake (12 Sep 07 |  Asia-Pacific )
How earthquakes happen (01 Jun 09 |  Science & Environment )
Deadly history of earthquakes (16 Aug 07 |  Special Reports )
Deadly earthquake hits Indonesia (06 Mar 07 |  Asia-Pacific )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
US Geological Survey
Pacific Tsunami Warning Center
Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services
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