Strong aftershock rocks Bengkulu for some 15 minutes<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A powerful aftershock measuring 6.2 on the
\nRichter scale jolted earthquake-stricken Bengkulu early on
\nThursday as locals protested the slow supply of emergency relief.<\/p>\n
The tremor, which was also felt in the South Sumatra
\nprovincial capital of Palembang and the town of Lahat, shook the
\narea for some 15 minutes at about 6:45 a.m.<\/p>\n
Antara reported that one person died as a result of the tremor
\nin Lahat, while over 600 buildings were damaged.<\/p>\n
The Meteorologic and Geophysics Office in Kepahiang, Bengkulu,
\nsaid the aftershock's epicenter was near Enggano island, some 120
\nkilometers from the provincial capital of Bengkulu, and 100
\nkilometers below sea level.<\/p>\n
A series of powerful earthquakes also shook China, Japan and
\nMyanmar at about the same time.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of small aftershocks have followed the 7.9 earthquake
\nthat hit the province late on Sunday, causing locals to panic and
\ncreating fresh fears of more fatalities and damage.<\/p>\n
Bengkulu Governor Hasan Zen called on local residents to
\nremain calm and disregard speculation that a tidal wave and more
\npowerful aftershocks would follow Thursday's tremor.<\/p>\n
\"We appeal to the local people to ignore these rumors. The
\nmass media should participate in helping to calm the situation,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of people in the provincial capital of Bengkulu on
\nThursday also expressed frustration over what they saw as the
\nslow pace of emergency assistance to thousands of people badly
\nneeding help.<\/p>\n
Most of these people are being accommodated in makeshift tents
\nafter their houses collapsed in the disaster.<\/p>\n
The supply of emergency relief to victims has been slow
\nbecause of damage to many roads, a shortage of transportation
\nfacilities, including airline flights, to the province.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, social workers and medical teams both from Jakarta
\nand many foreign countries have started work to provide food and
\nmedical aid to the injured.<\/p>\n
Shushaki Hirayasu, who leads the Japanese medical team, said
\nhis team was concentrating on helping treat hundreds of seriously
\ninjured victims in Muhammad Yunus General Hospital in Bengkulu
\ncity.<\/p>\n
He said he was coordinating with the government-supported task
\nforce to distribute aid to the needy.<\/p>\n
Idris, the hospital's director, hailed the coordination among
\nmedical teams to help treat patients in the hospital.<\/p>\n
He said 54 patients were undergoing intensive treatment for
\nserious injuries in the hospital, while 92 others have been
\nallowed to go home. Another 13 died in hospital. (rms)<\/p>",
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