Death toll of Tuesday's major earthquake in central Indonesia's Aceh province has increased to 40 as rescuers and police continue searching the seven people declared missing, a senior police said here on Friday.
"As of 2:00 p.m. today the total number of those perished in the earthquake has increased to 40 following the discovery of five more bodies this morning. There are seven people reported missing in Serampah village and searching activities are now conducted by the police and search and rescue team," Anang R, a police officer who heads the search and rescue operation told Xinhua here.
He said that the identifiable victims have been buried by their families. A number of unidentified bodies were placed in hospitals for further identification before being passed to their families, he added.
According to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, 275 people are injured and 4,292 houses damaged.
People in Blang Mancung village, the area worst devastated by the earthquake, are still taking refuge in tents erected outside their houses.
They don't want to move farther for fear that their belongings might be taken out of their houses.
Most buildings in the village were flattened by the earthquake and aftershocks.
Anang said that relief aids, including tents, blankets and food, have been passed to them. More than 580 people made homeless after the quake are living in a large shelter center erected by regional governments in a football lawn.
Some 600 police, in cooperation with 80 professional rescuers, have been deployed to undertake search and rescue activities since the earthquake took place on Tuesday, said Anang.
The government has extended the emergency response period from July 9 to July 17.
Friday 5 July 2013
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2013-07/05/c_132516227.htm
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