Quake landslides wipe out three villages in Indonesia

Landslides triggered by an earthquake in western Indonesia obliterated at least three villages this week, an official said today.

He said as many as 644 people including a wedding party were buried under mountains of mud and debris.

If all 644 are confirmed dead – as is likely – the death toll from Wednesday’s quake would jump to more than 1,300. The government’s death toll currently is 715.

Rustam Pakaya, the head of the Health Ministry’s crisis centre, said today that Pulau Aiya, Lubuk Lawe and Jumena villages were completely wiped out by the landslides.

He said 400 people attending a wedding in Pulau Aiya were buried by a quake-triggered landslide and another 244 people were buried in the two other villages.