Indonesia earthquake:

Seven villages declared mass graves

INDONESIA: Indonesian authorities declared as mass graves Tuesday seven villages destroyed by earthquake-triggered landslides, as they called off the search for over 200 people believed buried.

The decision to cancel the search in villages obliterated by landslides caused by the huge 7.6-magnitude quake that struck Sumatra island on September 30 had been made in consultation with the local community, said Padang Pariaman district police chief Uden Kusumawijaya.

The disaster, which also devastated the nearby city of Padang, killed 809 people, according to the latest official death toll. The United Nations has said the disaster likely killed upwards of 1,100.

"There was an agreement to stop the search for victims buried in the landslide due to the earthquake. The community has consented," Kusumawijaya told reporters."The landslide areas are considered graves for those who are buried," he said.

A total of 225 people were believed to have been buried in the devastated hamlets, said Padang Pariaman district spokesman Syofrian.

"Of course there are some in the community who don't agree, but most do, so we've stopped the search for victims. It's very hard to find those victims who are still buried," he said.

PADANG, Wednesday, AFP