Saturday, September 19, 2009

Strong earthquake shook Bali today, injuring at least seven people and sending panicked tourists and residents fleeing out of homes and hotels.

http://www.smh.com.au/world/quake-rocks-bali-20090919-fvxt.html

Indonesia's Meteorological and Geophysics Agency put the quake at a more powerful 6.4 magnitude.

The magnitude 5.8 quake hit just after 6am local time (0900 AEST), 75 kilometres south of Denpasar, the island's capital, the US Geological Survey said.

Seven people were treated for head injuries and broken bones at Sanglah Hospital in Denpasar, said Dr Ken Wirasandi, adding that women and children had run from their homes screaming when the ground began to rattle.

"I was frightened because it was strong," said Ernst Raynaldo, a tourist from the Netherlands who was staying at the Kuta beach strip.

"I ran out immediately as I saw many others rushing into the swimming pool," which was the closest open space.

The Bali quake comes just two weeks after a larger tremor on the main Indonesian island of Java killed nearly 100 people and ruined thousands of homes.