Blogger News Network

July 20, 2006

Aid is being provided for the 50,500 people who have been left homeless after a tsunami hit the Indonesian island of Java. An underwater earthquake, which measured 7.7 on the Richter scale, triggered the deadly tidal wave. Over 500 people perished.

Aid Workers have dropped 15 tonnes of rice and 1,600 boxes of instant noodles for those left displaced by the two-metre-high wave. However, there are some problems in ensuring the provisions get through to those who need it the most. Wawan, from the Social Affairs Ministry, told AFP news agency: "In terms of major problems, we have none. However, when we drop aid in one place, we occasionally have difficulties finding someone who can deliver the aid to people who need them most immediately."

Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is due to tour the area on Friday. His government has been criticised for failing to inform residents that a tsunami was imminent.

After the earthquake erupted, Japanese and US agencies issued tsunami alerts for parts of Indonesia and Australia, but the Indonesian government has admitted it was unable to pass warnings on to coastal areas like the small town of Pangandaran which was worst-hit. "Our system is not yet working properly. We are still developing a communication system especially for the regions," said Fauzi, a government scientist.

In the wake of the 2004 Asian tsunami, which killed more than 130,000 people in the western province of Aceh, a warning system is being implemented there. However, Java has always been perceived as having a low tsunami threat, but Indonesia's Vice President Jusuf Kalia has said an early warning system will be installed on the island within three years.

Officials have said that almost all of the victims were Indonesians, but a Pakistani, a Swede and a Dutch citizen were among those who perished.

It is thought that 275 people are still missing. The army and police are searching affected areas with sniffer dogs and mechanical diggers in the hope of finding survivors. "We are looking for people who are still missing or buried under the rubble as well as clearing the debris," said Deden Rajab, an army officer.

Parents are also searching ferociously for their missing children. "The water was too strong," said Irah as she dug through a pile of rubble with her hands in the hope of recovering her 6-year-old son. "Oh God. Eki, where are you?"

Worried residents continued to flee to the hills on Wednesday after rumours of another impending wall of water. "I am too scared to go down," one elderly woman told the AFP news agency.

UN secretary-general Kofi Annan gave his condolences to the victims. A statement said Mr Annan "is saddened by the loss of life and damages provoked by the tsunami ... and the trauma being experienced by the survivors due to the series of aftershocks shaking parts of the island."

Yesterday, another earthquake caused buildings to shake in Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, but there were no reports of injuries. Officials at the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said no new tsunami is expected.

Survivors have described the tsunami, which struck on Monday afternoon.

A Belgian tourist said he was in a beachside bar when the wave hit. "I saw this big cloud of dark sea water coming up to me," he said.

Uli Sutarli, a plantation worker who was on Pangandaran beach, told Reuters: "When the waves came, I heard people screaming and then I heard something like a plane about to crash nearby, and I just ran."

Indonesia is situated on the Pacific Rim of Fire where 90% of the world's earthquakes and 81% of the world's largest earthquakes occur.

Related

• "Second quake in two days strikes Indonesia". Wikinews, July 19, 2006

Sources

• "Aid efforts shift into gear after Indonesian tsunami". AFP, 20 July 2006

• "Indonesia death toll passes 500". BBC News Online, 19 July 2006

• "Grim search for bodies after Indonesian tsunami". AFP, Jul 19, 2006

• Dita Alangkara "Indonesian tsunami death toll rises to 531". USA Today, 19 July 2006