Earthquake In Bengkulu

No Aid Yet Arrives in North Bengkulu
Friday, 14 September, 2007 | 13:39 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Bengkulu: Some residents complained about the sluggish aid transfer to the earthquake location in North Bengkulu Regency. According to Tempo , up to yesterday (13/9), there was not any aid, either from the regional or central government, that reached North Bengkulu.

“We only depend on the available food. There is no logistic aid yet from the government despite that the quake was yesterday,” said M. Atik, 62, resident of Kota Agung Hamlet, Air Besi District, North Bengkulu Regency.

Residents of Lais District, the worst area, complained of not having sufficient food. . “So far we have only eaten what we have,” said Gadis, 63, Simpang Lais resident. In this area, the residents built emergency tents and a kitchen.

Generally, according to the National Disaster Handling Coordination Agency (Bakornas), the impact of the Bengkulu earthquake was not as bad as that in Yogya last year. However, the residents were still concerned about going back to their houses due to frequent aftershocks.

The Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG) National Earthquake Center, Suharjono, confirmed that aftershocks will occur until next week. Up to yesterday, 30 aftershocks were recorded, measuring between four and five on the Richter scale. This is regarded normal. This is because, “ Energy release continues until (nature) reaches a balance,” he said.

Yesterday, BMG has also sent a team to monitor quake development in Bengkulu. They were assigned to collect data and monitor the seismograph. “There will be around four portable seismographs ,” he said.

The quake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale shook Bengkulu two days ago (12/9). The vibration was felt almost in the entire Sumatra Island. The data on the damage is still being collected. Ten people died and 23 were wounded, reports said. In addition to Bengkulu, four people were reported dead in Padang, West Sumatra.

In response to the quake, Bakornas sent five tons of food. According to the Bakornas Emergency Director, the central government accompanies disaster handling, which is carried out more by the regional government including gathering heavy machinery for evacuation. “If there’s something needed, we’ll help,” said Tabrani.

An aftershock with a measurement of 7.7 on the Richter scale also hit Jambi and Padang yesterday. As a result, in Padang, it was reported that 600 patients in M. Djamil General Hospital were evacuated to the hospital’s yard and they slept in tents.