11 quake-looters arrested in West Sumatra

West Sumatra Police have arrested 11 people who looted in the provincial capital of Padang, one of two worst hit areas after last week's 7.6-magnitude quake.

The provincial police chief Brig. Gen. Wahyu Daini said Friday that his office would take stern action against any crime committed during the disaster period.

“If they are in need of help, we will assist. But if they committed a crime, we will arrest them,” he said as quoted by Antara news agency.

The office has been deploying around 2,000 personnel throughout the province to secure aid distribution and guard vulnerable areas.

Hundreds of buildings, including commercial ones, have been severely damaged in the quake, which has taken 784 lives according to official data as of Friday.