Hospital turns into real-life panic room

Rita A.Widiadana and I Wayan Juniartha, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali

Eighteen-year-old Lucy, not her real name, looked pale and shaken.

"I am looking for my mom. She was inside the Sari Club, while I was outside the bar buying cigarettes. Now I don't know where she is," cried Lucy while waiting for a list of victims to be released by the Sanglah General Hospital at midnight on Oct. 11.

Lucy was just one of hundreds of people who were helplessly trying to find news of their loved ones after Saturday night's bomb blast at the Sari Club and Paddy's discotheque in Legian's nightlife hub in Kuta.

Lucy and her mother, both Australian, have been in Bali for a few months. "We rarely go out on the weekend. I don't know why we went there tonight," she said in a broken voice.

Ambulances kept coming and going to drop off the injured at the hospital's emergency ward. The victims have been admitted to a number of hospitals in nearby areas.

Ambulance sirens broke the night silence. In just a few hours, local residents had flocked to clinics, hospitals and other crisis centers to check if any of their loved ones were among the victims.

I Made Suardja, a resident of Kreneng, said he had heard a powerful sound. "I thought there was a fire near my house," he said.

More than 300 patients were rushed to Sanglah hospital where medical equipment was adequate to treat the injured. Around 180 bodies were also taken to the hospital.

Dr. Lanang Made Rudhiartha, director of the Sanglah hospital, said he did the best he could to treat the injured.

"This is the first time Sanglah hospital has received such a big number of patients in a profound emergency," Lanang said.

Bali Governor I Dewa Made Beratha, who visited victims at the hospital at 2 a.m. on Sunday, said that Australian Consular General Ross Tysoe had called him to offer any assistance required.

When the governor left the hospital, a tearful Balinese girl was looking for a name on the white board. "My brother was a barman at the Sari Club. I hope he is still alive," the girl sobbed.

Agus Tasi, a worker at the Sari Club, survived.

"I heard a blast from outside the club and ran to the front door, which flew off and was destroyed in the second blast," Agus said.

He rushed to the back door to get out of the club. Agus received slight injuries to his hands and head.

"I was reported dead at first because nobody could find me, but somebody had put me in an ambulance heading for Sanglah hospital," said Agus, who lives in Denpasar.

Agus said he was treated by a nurse on the hospital floor because of a lack of beds. "When they found that my injury was not so serious, they let me go home alone," Agus said. "Two of my work mates died," he added.

Ika Mardiana, a renowned designer, said she wanted to provide medicine, food and drinks for those in need but did not know where to send them.

A number of expatriates living in Bali were also helpful. "We just want to be with those who do not have anybody here in Bali," said one Australian woman.

Debe Campbell, a public relations officer in Bali, was looking for expatriate colleagues with Rh negative blood, which is uncommon among Indonesians.

"We desperately need A negative, B negative and O negative blood. If you have friends or families with such blood types please contact the Sanglah Hospital here," she said.

Many Western patients will need blood transfusions due to critical injuries. Others will need skin grafts to treat third degree burns.

"It was a really bloody Sunday that I won't forget for the rest of my life," a German patient said.

Important phone numbers:

* Sanglah General Hospital: 0361-227911 * Puri Raharja Hospital: 0361- 229118 * Kasih Ibu Hospital: 120 0361-223036 * Udayana Army Hospital: 0361 228061