The death toll in a powerful tsunami off the western coast of Indonesia has risen to 108 people, with over 500 missing, local media said on Tuesday, citing the Indonesian authorities.
The tsunami was triggered by an earthquake, measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale, which struck off the coast of western Sumatra. The epicenter was 78 kilometers south of Indonesia's Pagai Selatan Island.
The head of the local disaster relief effort said seven residents of the Muntai village died and another 40 went missing while out fishing. Dozens of residents of neighboring villages are also being searched for.
Indonesia is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area of intense seismic activity. A series of powerful quakes hit the country last year, killing over a thousand people and destroying hundreds of buildings.
JAKARTA, October 26 (RIA Novosti)
