Nightly News   |  September 30, 2009

Race on to rescue trapped Indonesian quake victims

Sept. 30: A powerful earthquake rocked western Indonesia Wednesday, leaving at least 75 dead and thousands more trapped under fallen buildings. NBC's Ron Allen reports.

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>> after a long overnight voyage. now, to the twin crisis, the devastating earthquake on the island of somatra. ron allen has been tracking the story from our headquarters here in new york. good evening.

>> good evening, brian. the rescue operation is struggling to get under way. it measured 7.6 on the rick tor scale. 1,000 people may have been killed. terrified residents of padang ran for ground. warnings of killer tsunami waves. reports hundreds of buildings collapsed including two hospitals, a number of hotels and a shopping mall . rescuers tried to reach a place virtually cut off from the outside world . no power or communication. reports say the roof collapsed. tens of thousands are spending the night homeless, wrenched by heavy rain. early in the day, indonesia's vice president said 200 died. both occurred in the ring of fire , the most violent area of the world for earthquakes, where 90% of them happen. a horseshoe around the pacific ocean where they wind against each other from new zealand, north of alaska, then around the coast of north and south america.

>> the quakes were 18,000 miles apart. they occur in places where there's high size mick activity. they are probably independent, with no connection.

>> reporter: warnings have been lifted. a very grim situation. it's unclear when a number of rescuers will survive. there's a strong possibility of strong aftershocks.

>> ron allen , who continues to watch the disaster. thanks.

>>> now, we turn to afghanistan.