At least 35 people have been killed, 637 injured and more than 15,000 evacuated after a 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, in the western part of the country.

In addition, six other people have been buried by the rubble after the Mitra Manakarra Hospital collapsed, leaving medical and health personnel, patients and families buried, as reported by the state radio station Radio Republik Indonesia.

The earthquake has also caused significant material damage, destroying dozens of houses and buildings, including the offices of the provincial governor. It has also caused blackouts, disrupted mobile phone networks and cut off access to roads.

In the early hours of Friday, at 1:28 a.m. local time, the earthquake took place, with the epicenter six kilometers from the Majene district, at a depth of 10 kilometers, according to the Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysical Agency (BMKG, for its acronym in English) of Indonesia.

The tremor has also triggered landslides in at least three locations between Majene and Mamuju, according to data provided by the agency.

“Residents are still being advised to stay away from buildings and beaches” for fear of collapse and a tsunami in the event of possible aftershocks, BMKG chief Dwikorita Karnawati has warned.

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