3rd LD: At least 40 killed, 190 wounded as strong quake hits Aceh, Indonesia

At least 40 persons have been killed and 190 others wounded in the 6.4-magnitude quake in Aceh province of western Indonesia on Wednesday as the quake caused a massive damages, official of disaster agency said.

Tens of houses, buildings and infrastructure facilities were destroyed by the powerful-and-shallow underearth quake, Heni Nurmaini, a press officer for emergency unit at the provincial disaster agency told Xinhua by phone.

Most of the victims and damages were in Pidie Jaya district, one of the hardest hit areas, the official said.

Search and rescue operation for the victims of the quake is underway now, she said.

Dozens of people remained trapped under the debris of buildings of shops in Pidie Jaya district, Apriadi, head of emergency unit at the district disaster agency told Xinhua by phone.

Scores of heavy machinery equipments have been deployed to help the evacuation, he added.

Injured persons have been sent to hospitals in the districts, Apriadi said. Endit