Life goes on
Indonesian president promises to rebuild devastated Aceh
Survivors performing Friday prayers at a mosque badly damaged by Wednesday’s earthquake in Tringgading, Aceh province, Indonesia. Over 100 people were killed in the quake that hit the province northeast of Sumatra.
TRINGGADING: Indonesia’s president travelled to areas of Aceh province devastated by a magnitude 6.5 earthquake, as estimates of the number of displaced people swelled, and vowed that torn-apart communities would be rebuilt.
Stopping at a collapsed mosque in Tringgading not far from the quake’s epicentre, Joko “Jokowi” Widodo yesterday gave out envelopes stuffed with 15mil rupiah (RM4,987), a small fortune in Aceh where the minimum wage is about 2mil rupiah (RM665) a month, to people whose family members were killed.
“I’ve already decided that the mosque will be rebuilt as soon as possible, but we have to do it together starting tomorrow,” he said.
At least 100 people were killed in the quake that hit the northeast of Aceh province on Sumatra before dawn on Wednesday.
Hundreds of people were injured and more than 11,000 buildings destroyed or damaged.
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency said about 23,000 people are displaced. They are staying in temporary shelters and mosques or with relatives.
Killer quakes occur regularly in the region, where many live with the terrifying memory of a giant Dec 26, 2004 earthquake that struck off Sumatra. The magnitude 9.1 quake triggered a devastating tsunami that killed more than 100,000 Acehnese.
“I don’t know what to do but I’m really thankful for this (donation),” said Miftahuddin, who received the money from Jokowi.
“Because we don’t have anything left,” said Miftahuddin, who goes by one name.
A substantial relief effort is underway involving the government, military and international humanitarian organisations.
Jokowi and his entourage also visited a hospital in the town of Sigli where the injured are being treated. The damaged hospital in Pidie Jaya district near the epicentre has been overwhelmed and some patients were accommodated in tents on its grounds.
Mohammad Reza, the hospital director, said Jokowi handed out envelopes containing 5mil rupiah (RM1,662) to each of the injured.
“His visit is likely a motivation for the victims to move on,” Reza said.
Officials lowered the death toll to 100 from 102 on Thursday, with the disaster mitigation agency saying the names of two victims had been recorded twice.
Sniffer dogs joined a search for bodies and possible survivors in the hard-hit town of Meureudu, where a market filled with shop houses was largely flattened. — AP