Death toll from Sunday's quake in Maluku hits 25

JAKARTA (JP): The death toll from Sunday's powerful earthquake in Maluku reached 25 on Tuesday, with the number expected to rise as rescue workers continue to search for victims on the islands of Tailabu and Mangole.

Search and rescue workers were struggling to reach remote villages which had been cut off following the tremor which measured 6.5 on the Richter scale, Maluku Vice Governor Paula Renyaan said in the provincial capital of Ambon on Tuesday.

She said 17 bodies were discovered in West Taliabu district, the area believed to be the worst hit. Bodies were also discovered in the districts of Falabisahaya and East Taliabu.

Antara reported that in Falabisahaya, villagers discovered the body of a woman swept out to sea when the pier she was standing on collapsed. The body of a young boy was found among the rubble of a collapsed house.

Also among the dead were five employees of the Barito Pacific Group, which has timber interests in the area.

Arif from North Maluku regency's natural disaster management command post told The Jakarta Post that eight people were believed to be still missing.

Dozens of casualties have been flown to Ambon and Manado in North Sulawesi for medical treatment.

Mangole, which has an airstrip, lies approximately 300 kilometers from both Ambon and Manado.

Food relief has been flown to the two islands. The North Maluku regency administration has sent 11 tons of rice, 200 boxes of instant noodles and 500 kilograms of sugar and the Maluku provincial administration has sent seven tons of rice and 20 boxes of instant noodles.

Around 100 members of the Armed Forces (ABRI) have also been sent to help villagers on the islands, according to Antara.

More aid is expected, Arif said.

Renyaan said the islanders need more assistance, including food, tents and medicine.

"We are assessing their overall needs," she said.

Many buildings and houses on the two islands -- home to around 120,000 people -- were damaged during the earthquake, she said.

In the meantime, many islanders have moved to higher ground in fear of tidal waves, Arif said.

Paula said the fears were unfounded, adding that relief workers had been told to inform the islanders not to panic and to return to their homes.

Antara reported that Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina had decided to cut short a working visit to Central and South Maluku regencies to visit the affected areas. (aan)