SUMATRA/MOSCOW, October 5 (RIA Novosti) - Indonesian authorities have halted search and rescue operations in the city of Padang on the island of Sumatra, six days after a series of powerful earthquakes devastated the region.
According to United Nations data, more than 1,000 people have died and up to 4,000 are trapped under debris following a series of earthquakes, the strongest with magnitudes of 7.6 and 6.9, destroyed some 75% of the buildings in the port city of Padang.
"The victims have been buried under rubble for more than five days, it is unlikely they could survive," the Jakarta Post quoted West Sumatra administration spokesman Dede Nuzul Putra as saying.
Though rescue attempts have been stopped in Padang, search and rescue operations are still ongoing in other parts of the country, Indonesian disaster management agency spokesman Priyadi Kardono was reported as saying.
Rescue teams from 17 countries, including Russia, have arrived in Sumatra to help deal with the aftermath of Wednesday's quake, though most are now packing up to return home.
Russian emergency teams will remain in the area to render medical services for survivors.
Part of the Pacific's Ring of Fire, Indonesia is in the world's most seismically active region, registering 6,000-7,000 earthquakes with a magnitude of 4.0 or above annually.
