Aftershocks keep quake victims on edge

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Hundreds of earthquake victims on Lombok island remained on Saturday in makeshift tents, one day after a powerful earthquake rocked the island and its neighboring resort island of Bali.

According to one victim, they had not gone home yet as they feared that aftershocks would hit the island. Others said they were afraid to sleep inside their houses, because the structures had been damaged.

The victims included residents of Pemenang, Mangsit and Batu Layar subdistricts, West Lombok.

"We are afraid that the houses will collapse soon after we go home," a resident of Mangsit was quoted as saying by Antara.

The earthquake, which measured 6.3 on the Richter scale, has caused damage to hundreds of buildings on the two islands. Dozens were injured in the disaster, which was the most powerful tremor to hit the area since 1979.

As of Saturday, at least 23 people were still being treated for their injuries at a hospital in Mataram, the capital of West Nusa Tenggara.

Separately on Bali, the regent of Karangasem, which was hardest hit by the earthquake, estimated on Saturday that the earthquake had brought material losses of Rp 23.6 billion (US$2.8 million).

Karangasem regent I Gde Sumantara said losses were great, as dozens of buildings were severely damaged by the quake.

Also on Saturday, Bali governor I Dewa Beratha visited the regency, which is located 82 kilometers east of capital Denpasar, to deliver a Rp 500 million (US$58,800) aid package in cash.

He also provided medicine and 10 tons of rice to victims. At least 11 Karangasem residents has been injured.

Beratha said during the visit that four ministers -- Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla, Minister of Settlement and Regional Infrastructure Soenarno, Minister of Health Achmad Suyudi and Minister of Social Affairs Bachtiar Chamsyah -- were scheduled to visit Bali and Lombok on Sunday to tour those areas that were hardest hit by the earthquake.

The government has also begun to distribute aid to Lombok. An official of the West Nusa Tenggara provincial administration said they would immediately channel 100 tons of rice to the victims.

"The rice will soon be distributed to the needy, each of whom will get 400 grams for seven days," head of disaster management at the West Nusa Tenggara social welfare office, Endang Nuruddin, was quoted as saying by Antara.