Megawati to visit Nabire, Jayapura

JAYAPURA, Papua: President Megawati Soekarnoputri is slated to visit the devastated town of Nabire, which was recently rocked by a fatal earthquake measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale.

During the visit, which is scheduled for Thursday, the President will visit the victims of the earthquake and inspect damaged public facilities.

At least 37 people were killed in the temblor on Feb. 16 and hundreds of others were injured. The quake was declared a national disaster by the government.

Besides visiting Nabire, Megawati will also visit Jayapura, the capital of Papua province. During the visit, Megawati, in her capacity as the chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), will inaugurate new offices for the PDI-P's Papua branch. -- Antara