Earth quake kills at least 200 in West Indonesia

STAFF WRITER 8:48 HRS IST

Jakarta, Oct 1 (AP) A disaster management official says at least 200 people have been killed by the powerful earthquake that struck western Indonesia.

Priyadi Kardono, a spokesman for the National Disaster Management Agency, says the deaths were counted in the coastal Sumatran city of Padang, following yesterday's 7.6 magnitude quake.

A higher death toll is expected once officials tally casualties in other areas of West Sumatra province where communications and roads have been severed.

Kardono said today that about 500 buildings collapsed in Padang, a sprawling regional capital of 900,000 people.

A huge aid operation was under way.