State-owned buildings among quake wreckage<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The earthquake and its aftershocks in Bengkulu
\nhave ruined 19 out of 69 state buildings, the Ministry of
\nSettlement and Territorial Development announced on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
A press statement released by the ministry said that the
\nstructures included the provincial legislative building, the
\nGaruda Mas Provincial Military Command headquarters, the
\nprovince's Ministry of Health office and the M. Yunus state
\nhospital.<\/p>\n
The Bengkulu provincial public works office also said the
\nlocal grand mosque was among buildings seriously damaged in the
\ndisaster.<\/p>\n
The office added that some 16,000 hectares of rice fields are
\nfacing drought as the quake also affected irrigation facilities
\nin the province. Around Rp 12 billion is needed to repair the
\nirrigation system, Antara quoted the office as stating.<\/p>\n
Road and bridge reconstruction will cost the province at least
\nRp 18.7 billion and another Rp 2.7 billion is needed to repair
\nhousing, resettlement and water systems, the office report said.<\/p>\n
An earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale shook the
\nSumatra province on June 4, leaving at least 90 killed and
\nhundreds of others injured. No less than 1,827 aftershocks have
\naroused fear among residents and caused more damages.<\/p>\n
But an official of the province's Meteorology and Geophysics
\noffice, M. Riadi, said on Monday the flurry of aftershocks would
\ncompletely stop 25 days after the initial quake.<\/p>\n
\"I can say that within 25 days there will be no more tremors.
\nHowever anything can happen because earthquake is an
\nunpredictable phenomenon,\" Riadi said after briefing Minister of
\nTransportation Agum Gumelar during a visit to the province.<\/p>\n
\"Previously there were at least eight aftershocks per hour,
\nbut now it has dropped to three.\"<\/p>\n
On Monday morning, people rushed out of their tents and homes
\nin panic following two aftershocks measuring between 4.5 and six
\non the Richter scale.<\/p>\n
The first tremor occurred at 5:17 a.m., while the second
\nerupted 11 minutes later. Their epicenter was located about 299
\nkilometers southwest of Bengkulu, below the Indian Ocean.<\/p>\n
Sports officials, meanwhile, expressed fear that the natural
\ndisaster would play havoc on the performance of the province's
\nathletes who will take part in the 15th National Games (PON) in
\nSurabaya next week.<\/p>\n
An executive of the provincial sports council, Iskandar Ramis,
\nsaid the athletes' training center had been destroyed and many of
\nhis athletes lost their homes.<\/p>\n
\"They also cannot rest at night, because many of them have to
\nsleep under tents,\" Iskandar complained, as quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
Exports from the province will probably return to normal
\nwithin two months, as Baai port was also heavily damaged.<\/p>\n
Head of Baai Port, Syarif Usman, said exports of coal, coffee
\nand rubber were seriously affected because big ships could not
\nberth.<\/p>\n
The government needs at least Rp 8 billion (about
\nUS$920,000) to repair it. The repairs will take about two months.<\/p>\n
\"We hope the construction will start soon,\" said Syarif. (prb)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/state-owned-buildings-among-quake-wreckage-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }