Indonesian strong quake toll reaches 57, dozens missing

2009-09-03 18:14:28  

    TASIKMALAYA, Indonesia, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) --

The number of death toll of Indonesia's 7.3-Richter-scale quake climbed to 57 as the rescuers had to dig through rocks and debris to find more than 42 people missing in West Java on Thursday, the Disaster Management Agency said.

    The strong quake on Wednesday has seriously damaged 11,039 houses and slightly destroyed 13,046 others, spokesperson of the agency Priyadi Kardono said.

    The quake displaced 5,000 people and most of them lived in makeshift tents now, head of the crisis center of the Health Ministry Rustam Pakaya said.

    Over 90 people suffered from serious injuries and about 400 others got minor injuries, he said. The quake also destroyed 16 health facilities, Pakaya said.

    It was predicted 42 people were still buried under the debris of houses hit by landslides, he said.

    "Searching for those who go missing is underway now," he told Xinhua.

    The earthquake struck western parts of Indonesia on Wednesday, causing panic in some cities and potential for a tsunami, but the tsunami did not occur.

    The quake struck at 2:55 p.m. Jakarta time (0755 GMT) with the epicenter at 142 km southwest Tasik Malaya of West Java and at a depth of 30 km, the meteorology agency said.

    Indonesia with over 230 million people sits on a vulnerable quake-hit zone so called the Pacific Ring of Fire, where two continental plates meet causing frequent seismic and volcanic movements.

Editor: Xiong Tong

Indonesian quake-stricken people in deep sorrow for family's losses

2009-09-03 12:37:33  

    by Cundoko Aprilianto

    JAKARTA, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) --

Yoyok Tarwia, a 40-year-old furniture vendor in Indonesian capital Jakarta, was heartbroken when he found his son died, his wife injured and their house collapsed when a powerful earthquake hit his hometown in Tasikmalaya Regency of Indonesia.

    The quake, measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale, rocked West Java on Wednesday, causing panic and deep sorrow among the people in the stricken areas.

    Yoyok's six-year-old son is one of the victims in the disaster. The death toll, which has been on a rise, has hit 44, according to the latest tally.

    "He and his mother were hit by a collapsing wall while they were trying to get out of the house. But he failed to escape," said the father.

    Yoyok said he chatted with his boy on telephone an hour before the accident.

    "He was not much of a talker. But that day he was more talkative. He wanted me to buy him shoes for Islamic festivity of Lebaran. I got home only to find my kid breathless ..." the father said, with tears welling up in his eyes.

    Yoyok's house and his neighbor's were leveled to the ground. They were among the worst affected families in Sukasetia village of Cisayong sub-district in Tasikmalaya regency.

Editor: Pliny

Indonesia's strong quake displaces 5,000

2009-09-03 13:41:06  

    JAKARTA, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) --

More than 5,000 people have been internally displaced as 46 people have been dead and 40 others missing in a magnitude 7.3 quake that hit West Java on Wednesday, Health Ministry and Disaster Management Agency said here Thursday.

    Head of crisis center of the health ministry Rustam Pakaya said a total 5,348 people have been displaced and are living in makeshift tents, including in Tasikmalaya, Ciamis and Cianjur of West Java.

    Over 90 people suffered from serious injury and about 400 others got minor injury, he said.

    The quake also destroyed 16 health facilities, Pakaya said.

    The disaster management agency reported that over 18,000 house sand buildings had been damaged.

    President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is heading to Cianjur on Thursday, according to an official of the State Palace. Health Minister Siti Fadilah Sufari is also along with the president, said Pakaya.

    Social Minister Bachtiar Chamzah and Transport Minister Jusman Syafei Djamal also visited the scene.

    Health Ministry has send a number of aids and other needs to West Java, Pakaya said.

    "Our staffs have been there since last night, carrying body sags, medicine, generator, and we will add their number," he said.

    The earthquake struck western parts of Indonesia on Wednesday, causing panic in some cities and potential for tsunami, but the tsunami did not occur.

    The quake struck at 2:55 p.m. Jakarta time (0755 GMT) with the epicenter at 142 km southwest Tasik Malaya of West Java and at a depth of 30 km, the meteorology agency said.

    Indonesia with over 230 million people sits on a vulnerable quake-hit zone so called the Pacific Ring of Fire, where two continental plates meet which causes frequent seismic and volcanic movements.

Editor: Lin Zhi