4 Jul 2013

Aceh quake toll now 24

3:04 pm on 4 July 2013

Rescue crews have reached survivors of an earthquake in the Indonesian province of Aceh that killed at least 24 people.

Almost 250 were also injured when the magnitude 6.1 quake struck at a depth of 10km on Tuesday. It was followed by 16 aftershocks

There was widespread devastation in Blang Mancung village in central Aceh, with many houses reduced to rubble. At least six children killed when a mosque collapsed.

The national disaster agency said on Wednesday bad phone communications, damage to several roads, and landslides were making rescue efforts difficult, AFP reports.