Indonesia Quake Toll Hits 75; Thousands Trapped

The powerful earthquake that rocked western Indonesia today has trapped thousands under collapsed buildings—including two hospitals—and triggered landslides. At least 75 people were killed on Sumatra island, and the death toll was expected to climb sharply.
The magnitude 7.6 temblor comes a day after a quake in the South Pacific triggered a deadly tsunami in Samoa.

When the Indonesia quake struck, the ground shook so hard that people sat on the streets to avoid falling over, TV footage showed. Children screamed as residents tried to put out fires, and thousands fled the coast in cars and motorbikes. "Many buildings are badly damaged, including hotels and mosques," said one official. (More Indonesia stories.)