Death toll from Sunday's quake in Maluku hits 25
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)