Indonesian Quake Death Toll Rises To 63

The death toll from a powerful earthquake climbed to 63 Monday, and authorities predicted the figure would rise as they contacted remote villages pounded by tidal waves.

All the deaths from Saturday’s magnitude-7 quake occurred on Biak island, off the northern coast of the island of New Guinea.

At least 20 people were missing, said police Lt. Col. Johannes Pieter Silooy.

Waves of aftershocks, some as strong as magnitude 6.7, have knocked down many buildings on Biak and injured 50 people.

More than 280 less powerful aftershocks were recorded Monday, said Margiono, deputy chief of the government meteorology agency on the Indonesian half of New Guinea. Like many Indonesians, he uses only one name.