Death toll from Indonesia quake, tsunami rises to 384

A handout photo provided by the Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management on Sept. 29, 2018 shows patients staying in a yard of Undata Regional Hospital in Palu, Indonesia's Central Sulawesi province. [Photo/Xinhua]

The death toll from a powerful earthquake and ensuing tsunami which hit Indonesia's Central Sulawesi province has risen to 384, the national disaster management agency said on Saturday.

Three shallow quakes of 6.0, 7.4 and 6.1 magnitude struck off the central province and triggered a tsunami of 0.5 to 3 meters in coastal areas near Talisa beach of Dongala district, and bay city of Palu, the provincial capital, the meteorology and geophysics agency said.

All victims have been rushed to hospitals, spokesman of the national disaster management agency Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said.

"Accordingly, the death toll and injuries as well as the damage will likely to climb," he told a press conference.

Most victims of the powerful 7.4-magnitude quake, Sutopo said, were hit by debris and falling blocks of concretes.

A tsunami triggered by the quake devastated buildings and residential areas in the coastal areas, he said, adding that the specific damage was still unknown as the risk assessment was underway.

Soldiers, police, disaster management agency personnel and volunteers were evacuating the quake and tsunami victims, said spokesman Sutopo.

Power outage has cut off local communications which is hampering the relief efforts.