A powerful earthquake in Indonesia has killed at least 35 people and injured hundreds more.

The quake struck at night on the island of Sulawesi, claiming lives and damaging many buildings in and around the capital district.

Now authorities fear more people could be buried in the rubble, and they're warning that strong aftershocks could also trigger a tsunami.

Trying.

Trapped under the rubble, this person tells rescue workers Sheikhoun barely hear the woman next to her breathing.

A powerful quake struck just after midnight, causing many to flee in the darkness.

In the morning, those left in the hardest hit city of Mahmoud, you woke up to scenes like thes.

This is what was left of the local hospital, where a rescue operation is now underway.

Back as you can see behind me from this hospital way have retrieved two dead victims.

We're still trying to find more victims in the rubble, but we don't know yet if they are still alive or not.

Some people have been recovered from the debris, but it's a vast operation.

As many as half the buildings in Mahmoudiya City have either collapsed or are partially damaged, and there are fears that strong aftershocks are still to come back in boxes.

Ilombe aftershocks are still happening according to our analysis from local data that we'd recorded a zwelling historical data.

We believe this still potential form or strong aftershocks.

Just like what happened at midnight.

Daniel Can Paso Salon?

Yeah.

Tokyo supported Dini.

Harry Daddy?

Yeah.

For now, many fearing that aftershocks are choosing to stay on high ground, wondering if they'll have homes to go back to from Jakarta.

I'm joined now by DW correspondent pre odd Arnie to approve A Thank you so much for joining us.

What is the latest right now?

Yes, sir, it is certainly, um, one of the most challenging time here in Indonesia because we're still in the middle off plan crash investigation.

And now we are facing a massive earthquake in the eastern part of Indonesia.

So what can I say to you right now?

Is the rescue team is still carry eating out.

The rest proper tend to find survived and who are trapped under the rubble.

And, um, there are two words effective locations in that area, which is Medina District and Mamadou District.

And in this to location, um, at least 34 people died because off this earthquake, So the rescue team has also faced a little bit off obstacles because there was also rain in there and the electricity is still out.

And the communication, um, seller is still also unstable.

So the rescue team is still, uh, do their job to really find the survivors as soon as possible.

Yeah, and we're looking at those images right now.

Like as you've mentioned that, you know, the rain that has been an issue.

A challenge for, um for for authorities as they try and move in there for for rescue workers.

Um, there's also the fear of aftershocks is well, given all of those factors, How are the rescue operations taking place?

Yes, sure.

The head off the meteorological and geophysics uh, agency here in Indonesia, in a news conference has told us that, um, after socks is still potentially happening, and it could lead to a tsunami.

So see urged the people to really stay away from areas that has a lot of buildings and structures that are easily collapsed and also to stay away from the coastal area to go to the higher ground, but still up until now.

The rescue operation is still do their job to really find victims and also survivors which are trapped under the rebels.

Because Assad being reported, um, dozens off houses are destroyed.

Even the office off the governor himself is also destroyed at this, um, massive quake.

Sarah, thank you so much.

Dws pre Giordani to a Pura Reporting from Jakarta on this earthquake in Indonesia.

We appreciate it.