Indonesian teams find more bodies, clear roads after quake

Indonesian rescuers on Sunday retrieved more bodies from the rubble of homes and buildings toppled by a strong earthquake, raising the death toll to 73, while military engineers managed to reopen ruptured roads to clear access for relief goods.

More heavy equipment reached the hardest-hit city of Mamuju and the neighboring district of Majene on Sulawesi island, where the magnitude 6.2 quake hit early Friday, said Raditya Jati, the National Disaster Mitigation Agencys spokesperson.

A total of 73 people died in Mamuju and nine in the neighboring district of Majene. Power supplies and phone communications also began to improve.

Thousands were left homeless and more than 800 have been injured, more than half still receiving treatment for serious injuries, Jati said.

The disaster agencys data showed nearly 27,850 survivors were moved to shelters. Most of them went to makeshift shelters that have been lashed by heavy monsoon downpours. Only a few were lucky to have tarpaulin-covered tents.

"We are unable to return to our destroyed homes," said a father of three who identified himself only as Robert. He said he fled from his bed while being treated at Mamujus Mitra Manakarra hospital, which was flattened by the quake.