June 16, 2010 Earthquake: Japen, Irian Jaya, New Guinea, Indonesia

At least seventeen people killed, 10,000 displaced, 2,556

buildings destroyed or damaged (VI), landslides

occurred and utilities disrupted on Yapen. Several

buildings destroyed or damaged (VI) on Biak. Felt (V)

at Nabire and (IV) at Manokwari. Also felt at Aberpura. (reference #1053)

JAKARTA, Indonesia - A series of powerful earthquakes hit Indonesia on Wednesday, killing at least three people, damaging hundreds of homes and triggering a brief tsunami warning that sent residents fleeing to high ground. Rescue officials said the death toll could climb, with several hard-hit remote areas yet to be reached.

The 7.0-magnitude quake struck beneath the ocean floor off the northern coast of Papua province at around noon Wednesday, the U.S. Geological Survey said on its website. A series of strong aftershocks followed, the highest measuring 6.4, adding to the widespread panic.

One of the victims was a 5-month-old baby, crushed by rubble when his family house collapsed on Yapen, an island closest to the epicenter, said Priyadi Kardono, spokesman for the National Disaster Management Agency. A woman also was killed, he said, and several people were hospitalized in critical condition. More than 500 island homes were damaged, he said, many of them badly. Sumpeno Yuwono, a top search and rescue official, said if reports from village chiefs were correct, almost all houses in nine yet-to-be-reached villages along Yapen's southern coast also suffered significant damage. (reference #7616)

An Indonesian official says the number of people killed when several strong earthquakes hit eastern Indonesia last week has climbed to 17. Priyadi Kardono, who is the spokesman for the National Disaster Management Agency, said Monday that 13 of the victims died when a landslide triggered by the quake buried their van. (reference #7835)