Houses damaged in quake

BANDA ACEH, Aceh: Fourteen houses were destroyed and hundreds of others damaged when an earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale hit Central Aceh last Wednesday.

Antara reported that at least 60 people became homeless in the villages of Gegarang, Berawang Dewa, Atu Lintang and Kuti Robel in remote Linge Isaq subdistrict, 368 kilometers north of here.

The three-second earthquake, which hit the province at 2:15 p.m., did not claim any lives. It was the worst natural disaster to hit Aceh since a flashflood swept through several parts of the province in late 1995.

Central Aceh administration's spokesman Mustafa Kamal said yesterday the quake caused material losses of Rp 1.4 billion. The administration had reportedly donated 500 kg of rice and Rp 2 million to help alleviate the burden of the quake victims. (swe)