JAKARTA, Nov. 27 (Xinhuanet) -- At least 17 people have been killed and 75 others injured, and hundreds of buildings destroyed in a powerful earthquake in Nabire district in Papua province in Indonesia, said a local police officer.

    Collapsing buildings cut electricity lines, sparking fires that destroyed or damaged almost 180 buildings, homes and places of religious worship, police Deputy Chief for Panial regency in Papuaprovince Comr. Wempi Batlayeri was quoted by Jakarta Post as saying Saturday.

    He said that all forms of communication with Nabire have been cut off and "Thick smoke is billowing everywhere."

    The runway of the town's airport was damaged in the quake. However, small Twin Otter airplanes are still able to land, he said.

    "The residents in those regencies ran out of their homes when they felt the tremors," said Wirda Fakaubun, chief of regental development and planning in Puncak Jaya regency.

    The earthquake struck at 11:25 a.m. (0425 GMT) on Friday, with its epicenter some 17 kilometers south of Nabire and 33 kilometers underground. Enditem