Indonesia slammed by major quakes
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A school damaged by earthquakes in Nabire, Papua province.
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(CNN) -- Indonesia's eastern-most Papua province is picking up the pieces after a second quake destroyed buildings and stymied rescue efforts from a quake just 30 hours before.
The U.S. Geological Survey said Saturday's quake measured 7.1 on the Richter scale, and came a day after one of a similar magnitude hit the area.
At least 27 people were killed and more than 200 were injured in Friday's quake, which was centered on the town of Nabire, Indonesian officials said.
Saturday's quake, which followed a day and night of aftershocks, interrupted the efforts of rescuers trying to free people trapped from Friday's quake.
It also triggered fears many more people may have been killed.
"I was shocked and panicked," said a man named Muhammed, a resident of the town of Nabire.
"I tried to get out of the house. I took my child, but we both ended up trapped under the rubble. My child didn't make it ... I broke my arm. I don't know what happened to my wife but they said she also died."
Authorities say it may take days to know the extent of the damage caused by the quakes.
Communication lines are unreliable and travel to the more remote villages is limited.
The most seriously injured were flown to larger hospitals in other parts of Indonesia.
The airport's runway is also partially damaged, hampering rescue and relief operations.
Government officials, including the social welfare minister, traveled to Nabire Saturday, and delivered medicine and supplies to the victims.
Meteorologists predict more tremors in the next few days.
Resource-rich Papua -- formerly known as Irian Jaya -- is 3,000 km (1,900 miles) east of Indonesia's capital, Jakarta.
Since February 3, the region has been struck by a total of seven moderate to strong earthquakes, ranging from 4.5 on the Richter scale to 7.1, according to the USGS.
-- CNN correspondent Kathy Quiano contributed to this report from Jakarta
