Strong Indonesian quake kills 15, flattens homes

[September 02, 2009]  JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) -- A disaster management official says the death toll from a powerful Indonesian earthquake has risen to 15 with scores more injured.

Disaster Management Agency spokesman Priyadi Kardono says the victims died when the quake hit Wednesday in West Java. The shaking reportedly triggered a landslide and toppled an unknown number of homes over a widespread area.

The official Antara news agency reports about a dozen 12 families are trapped under rocks and dirt from the landslide in one village.

The U.S. Geological Survey says the quake struck at 2:55 p.m. (0755 GMT) off the southern coast of the main island of Java with a preliminary magnitude of 7.0. A tsunami alert was issued but revoked less than an hour later.

[Associated Press]

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