An 8.5- to 8.7-level earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia Monday, triggering fears of another tsunami while officially killing 300 people and injuring and trapping hundreds more. However, various aid groups and news agencies estimate the death toll will climb as high as 1,000 to 2,000 as recovery missions progress.
Much of the destruction was concentrated on the Indonesian island of Nias. After experiencing Dec. 2004's deadly tsunami, 10,000 to 15,000 residents of Nias rushed to higher ground to avoid any tsunami Monday's quake could spark. Although no tsunami materialized, the mass migration created a shortage of doctors and nurses in area hospitals, as many professionals themselves fled to loftier locations.
The U.S. Geological Survey reported a series of smaller earthquakes after the initial one, which was also the strongest. Although their epicenters were in a slightly different location, the earthquakes occurred along the same fault line as the 9.0-Richter-Scale quake that provoked the December tsunami.
Federal officials announced Monday the arrest of 21 fugitive aliens in Wisconsin who had criminal backgrounds and were attempting to avoid deportation, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
The arrests were announced by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the office of U.S. Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Menomonee Falls, who chairs the House Judiciary Committee.
The 21 fugitives, captured in a 10-day sting that wrapped up March 25, hailed from 14 countries, mostly in Central America and Africa, but also places like Poland, Peru and India, the Journal Sentinel reported.
Federal officials did not immediately reveal where in the state the fugitives were captured.
