INDONESIA: Rescuers search through debris in aftermath of Indonesian earthquake

Emergency aid on Wednesday (March 7, 2007) began to reach survivors of the earthquakes that struck West Sumatra in Indonesia a day earlier, as rescue teams searched for those still trapped in the rubble of collapsed buildings. The Disaster Management Aency said 72 people were killed in Tuesday's (March 6) two quakes, which were also felt in neighbouring Singapore and Malaysia. Many more were injured and thousands, fearing further tremors, spent the night in the open. On Wednesday, thousands of people in West Sumatra province, where the quakes of 6.4 and 6.3 magnitude were centred, camped in tents outside their homes or in open fields. Dozens were still feared trapped and rescue officials using heavy equipment cleared debris from damaged buildings and schools while some residents used their bare hands. Rescuers amputated the arm of a man trapped under rubble for hours, but he died later. Schools were closed indefinitely after the quakes, in which two teachers were killed. However, rescue efforts were being speeded up because of the urgent need for useable school premises. "We tried as soon as possible because in this week we face national examinations for students. That's why we are accelerating the pace to find a place for the students," said headmaster Masati Bate'e. Some hospitals were overwhelmed with casualties. In Padang, the provincial capital of West Sumatra, authorities set up emergency tents on a soccer pitch. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who had been scheduled to visit North Sumatra on Wednesday, would go instead to the quake-hit area in West Sumatra, the state news agency Antara reported. The government sent troops and police to help in the rescue efforts and the Red Cross deployed a rapid-response team. Some residents in three badly affected areas -- Solok, Tanah Datar and Padang Panjang -- piched tents outside their damaged homes, moved in with relatives or spent the night in schools or mosques. Earthquakes are frequent in Indonesia, the world's fourth most populous country. Its 17,000 islands lie along a belt of intense volcanic and seismic activity, part of what is called the "Pacific Ring of Fire". A quake in the Indian Ocean off Sumatra in December 2004 caused a tsunami that left about 170,000 people dead or missing in the northern proinvce of Aceh.

ITN Source | March 7, 2007

Tags:. .indian. .injured. .ring. .affected. .sent