JAYAPURA

At least 17 people died in a powerful earthquake that struck Papua last week, an official said on Monday.

The 7.1-magnitude quake rattled the northern coast of Papua on Wednesday and left nine villages on Yapen island in ruins.

“Rescuers located a public van with 13 passengers inside. It fell into a ravine when the quake struck,” national disaster management head Priyadi Kardono said, raising the total death toll to 17.

The quake left more than 4,600 people homeless and destroyed over 2,500 houses, he added.

The rescue effort was being hampered by the remoteness of the island.