More bodies are retrieved in wake of earthquake
INDONESIAN rescuers yesterday retrieved more bodies from the rubble of homes and buildings toppled by a strong earthquake, raising the death toll to 78, while military engineers managed to reopen ruptured roads to clear access for relief goods.
More heavy equipment reached the hardest-hit city of Mamuju and the neighbouring district of Majene on Sulawesi island, where the magnitude 6.2 quake struck on Friday, Raditya Jati, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency’s spokesperson, said.
A total of 67 people died in Mamuju and 11 in Majene, the director of preparedness for the National Search and Rescue Agency, Didi Hamzar, said.
Thousands of people were left homeless and more than 800 were injured, with more than half of them still receiving treatment for serious injuries, Mr Jati added.
The disaster agency’s data showed that nearly 27,850 survivors were moved to shelters. Most of them went to makeshift shelters that have been lashed by heavy monsoon downpours. Only a few were protected by tarpaulin-covered tents. They said they were running low on food, blankets and other aid, as emergency supplies were rushed to the hardhit region.
Rescuers managed to retrieve four survivors and four bodies from the rubble of a flattened hospital in Mamuju.