Thousands may be trapped under quake rubble

PADANG, INDONESIA // Indonesia's health ministry says nearly 3,000 people may still be trapped under rubble after a powerful earthquake two days ago. Priyadi Kardono, a spokesman for the ministry's Disaster Management Agency, said today that 715 people have been confirmed dead and 2,400 sent to hospital. Wednesday's 7.6 undersea earthquake caused devastation across large parts of West Sumatra. The most casualties were reported in the regional capital, Padang.

Mr Kardono said more than 20,000 buildings and houses have been seriously damaged or destroyed, and nearly 3,000 people may still be trapped in Padang and six other districts. Search and rescue teams were trying to find survivors, and a foreign aid effort flew in tents, water, medicine, food and hundreds of emergency workers. *AP