Earthquake Rattles Indonesia, Thousands Dead

YOGYAKARTA, Indonesia, May 28, 2006 (ENS) - At least 3,300 people are confirmed dead in a severe earthquake that hit the island of Java, Indonesia on Saturday. Medical supplies are being rushed to the area to care for the thousands of others injured, a government spokesperson said today.

The 6.3 magnitude quake struck the Yogyakarta and central Java provinces at 5:54 am local time. The epicenter was just 20 kilometers (15 miles) south southwest of Yogyakarta, a city of some three million people, where more than 200 buildings were destroyed.

The hardest hit area is Yogyakarta’s southern Bantul district, where about 80 percent of the casualties occurred. Today rescue crews searched the rubble seeking survivors as grieving relatives buried their dead.

"In Bantul, 70 to 80 percent of homes and buildings were damaged or destroyed, while electricity and water services have also been affected throughout the region," said Arnulv Torbjornsen, head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) delegation in Jakarta.

A total of 25,000 houses are reported to have been damaged, 4,000 of which are completely destroyed. The city’s transport system is damaged, and roads and bridges are destroyed.

A young girl injured in the earthquake is carried by Indonesian military personnel into Penembahan Senopati Hospital in the Bantul district of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. (Photo by Estey courtesy UNICEF Indonesia)

Tonight, thousands of the homeless are sleeping outdoors in the pouring rain, for lack of temporary shelter, and also because they fearaftershocks that might destroy whatever structures remain.

"Aftershocks are continuing to shake the city and many people remain trapped under buildings and rubble," Torbjornsen said.

UNICEF Emergency Officer Lina Sofiani was in Yogyakarta when the earthquake struck. "The floor started moving and I looked up and could see the ceiling rippling," she said. "The shaking was the worst I had experienced. We ran outside."

"I drove toward the airport and saw people lining the street, panicked about the possibility of a tsunami," Sofiani said. No tsunami has occurred, but the coastal town of Parentritus reported a surge of water.

Indonesian Armed forces has mobilized 1,000 personnel and will provide heavy equipment, tents, medical equipment and supplies. A joint command post has been established at the office of the Bantul District Governor to coordinate assistance.

All Yogyakarta linked flights are redirected to Solo and Semarang, the closest airport locations from Yogyakarta, said Thamrin Bachri of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

The airport is closed, with damage to the runway and the terminal, but Bachri expected it to resume operation within hours. Once open, the airport will be used primarily for transporting relief goods and personnel.

The Secretary to Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare says the government has prepared a total of IDR 300 billion ($32.2 million) for earthquake disaster response out of the 2006 emergency budget.

Emergency field hospital treats earthquake victims near Bantul. (Photo courtesy Sophia A.)

"UNICEF has re-located staff to the earthquake zone and we are sending thousands of tents, tarpaulins, and lanterns, as well as water supply equipment," Executive Director Ann Veneman said Saturday." More supplies will follow, including medical supplies for the injured."

UNICEF Indonesia Communication Officer John Budd said children, who make up a third of the population in the quake-affected area, would be the most vulnerable in the days and weeks to come.

"If they're separated from their families, they are tremendously vulnerable," said Budd. UNICEF will work to reunite unaccompanied children with their loved ones.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is launching an emergency appeal for US$9.79 million to support the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) in assisting survivors of the earthquake.

The quake struck close to Mt Merapi, an active volcano that has been threatening to erupt for several weeks. It is not known whether the earthquake will cause Mt Merapi’s activity to increase, but local officials and Red Cross representatives are closely monitoring the situation.

"The Indonesian Red Cross has been gearing up for the threat of Mt. Merapi’s eruption since April," said Mar’ie Muhammad, chair of the Indonesian Red Cross. "As a result, we were well positioned to send emergency relief supplies and medical staff to the site as soon as the quake struck."