Irian Jaya quake injures 28 people

Irian Jaya quake injures 28 people

JAKARTA (JP): A strong earthquake hit Serui, the capital of
Irian Jaya's Yapen Waropen regency yesterday, injuring 28
villagers and destroying dozens of buildings.

The Jayapura-based meteorology and geophysics office recorded
the 2 a.m. quake at 5.6 on the Richter scale. The epicenter was
located 33 kilometers west of Serui.

A spokesman for the regency government, Daniel Nirahua, was
quoted by the Antara news agency as saying that the victims who
are mostly adults, were admitted to the Serui hospital.

The worst hit area was South Yapen Waropen subdistrict, while
other neighboring areas suffered no damage, he said.

He said the quake struck at time when people were fast asleep,
triggering panic and this contributed to the number of people
injured.

Nirahua said the regency's authorities and security officers
were called in to help the victims. Yapen Waropen regent Laban
Samori called his assistants to an emergency meeting to plan
sending relief.

Although Yapen Waropen is not one the areas in the province
susceptible to earthquakes, its residents have been warned to be
vigilant of any aftershocks, Sarosa said.

The most-quake prone regencies are Paniai and Jayawijaya.
Earth quakes rock the two areas every year and often claim lives
and residents' property.

An earthquake was also felt in Tarutung in North Sumatra, Nias
Island and Banda Aceh but there was no word of injuries or
damage, Antara reported.

Local meteorology and geophysics officials said the quake that
jolted the areas at 1.30 a.m. yesterday measured 4 on the Richter
scale. At about the same time, a tremor measuring 5.9 on the
Richter scale was also recorded in Banda Aceh in the northern tip
of Sumatra.(pwn)