Ratu Inoke relates recent Bali quake experience
PANICKED TOURISTS FLEE DAMAGED BUILDINGS
‘Whilst waiting outside the hotel, we saw parents holding tightly to their children, many of whom were crying and afraid of what would happen next’
The following is a response to Fiji Sun questions by the Minister for National Security and Defence Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, who is in Bali, Indonesia for the Seventh Ministerial Conference on the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime.
Ratu Inoke recounts his experience as the 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia on Sunday.
The deadly magnitude 7 earthquake hit Indonesia’s Lombok Island at 7.45pm while I was having dinner with my officers at the Westin Resort, Nusa Dua on the neighbouring island of Bali.
The quake began with minor trem- ors, but became violent within seconds forcing hotel staff and guests to leave in the middle of dinner and evacuate to safety.
As the walls shook, screams could be heard throughout the corridors as panicked tourists fled away from buildings. Fears grew of a tsunami and many buildings suffered damage from the quake and aftershocks.
Whilst waiting outside the hotel, we saw parents holding tightly to their children, many of whom were crying and afraid of what would happen next. The aftershocks continued through the night and we only returned inside the hotel once the shaking stopped for a long period. An uneasy night’s sleep later, we woke up to the news that 82 people had died during the night and many scores injured nearby. (More deaths were reported during the day bringing the death toll to 91 when this edition went to press) We prayed for those who lost loved ones and thanked God for protecting Fiji’s delegation from harm.
This is an experience that brings us closer to our Maker as warnings of further quakes and aftershocks have made us realise that this kind of catastrophe can strike at any moment. Psalm 91 is a good scripture passage to meditate on.
Psalm 91
A Messianic Psalm: The Lord will deliver the Messiah from terror, pestilence, and war. The Lord will give His angels charge over the Messiah and deliver Him and honour Him.
1. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: My God; in him will I trust.
3. Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 5. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6. Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9. Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; 10. There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11. For He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
14. Because He hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 15. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
16. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.