40 suffering from diarrhea after Nabire earthquake
40 suffering from diarrhea after Nabire earthquake
The Jakarta Post, Agencies
At least 40 Nabire residents have been struck down with diarrhea
since a powerful earthquake rocked the city last Friday, while
death toll in the disaster stood at 27 as of Tuesday afternoon.
Dozens of people in Kalibobo district suffering from diarrhea
have been brought to Nabire Hospital, Antara reported.
No fatalities were reported from the diarrhea outbreak that
resulted from poor sanitation following the major earthquake,
which measured 6.4 on the Richter scale.
Meanwhile, the Nabire Disaster Task Force said that the number
of fatalities rose to 27 on Tuesday, but the number of people
dead could be much higher as it was feared many bodies were still
buried under collapsed buildings.
Besides killing 27 people, the earthquake has left hundreds of
people injured and hundreds of buildings in ruins.
Separately, much-needed food aid, medicines and tents finally
began arriving in Nabire on Tuesday to the relief and joy of
local residents. The aid, sent by the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI),
consisted of 100 tents, 100 mosquito nets, blood supplies and
medicines.
The Papua provincial administration has donated 100 tons of
rice.
The arrival of aid had been held up as the runway of the only
airport in the area was damaged by the earthquake.
In an effort to get aid to the city, Paniai Regent A.P. Youw
had sent a letter to United Nations' Secretary-General Kofi Annan
to ask him to send aid to the quake victims.
The United Nations had earlier sent medicines and other forms
of aid to Nabire residents following an earthquake in the city in
February this year. The earthquake in February, which measured
6.9 on the Richter scale, killed at least 37 people and left
hundreds of residents injured.
Aftershocks continued to rattle the city on Tuesday, sparking
panic among residents.
Meteorology experts have warned that the aftershocks could
continue for up to two weeks after the main earthquake on Friday,
according to DPA.