Badly shaken Mentawai calls for help

Syofiardi Bachyul Jb ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Padang   |  Mon, 03/03/2008 11:32 AM  |  The Archipelago

Authorities in Mentawai have begun to call more loudly for help from the government after two consecutive earthquakes devastated the archipelagic regency in West Sumatra.

While authorities said the earthquakes last week almost completely destroyed public infrastructure and at least 200 houses. More precise information about the extent of the damage in Mentawai wasn't available yet, however.

Thousands of people were being housed in makeshift shelters and schools were either closed or holding class in tents, officials said.

Damage on Pagai, Sipora and Siberut, the three islets nearest the epicenter of the quakes, was believed to be extensive. However, rough seas prevented rescue and aid missions from sending teams there.

While accompanying the regent on a visit to affected islands Saturday, Mentawai chief councillor Kortanius Sebeleakekon told The Jakarta Post by phone that "all ... churches, mosques, school buildings, public health centers and subdistrict office buildings" were damaged and more than 200 houses flattened.

"The regent has received reports of the damage on the three islands but detailed data isn't available yet because search and rescue workers are still in the field helping the wounded and displaced."

On Pagai island a week after the tremors, comprehensive reports on damage and casualties were available for only three of 10 villages, Saumanganyak, Matobek and Sikakap, according to the official.

Most residents were staying in tents in hilly areas for fear of aftershocks and tsunamis, he said.

The 7.6 and 7.3 magnitude quakes struck the regency on Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning respectively.

An early report of two children killed and 14 houses destroyed vastly underestimated actual damage to dwellings. Kortanius said an earthquake in September last year could have weakened houses, making them more vulnerable.

Data on human casualties was not available.

Part of the blame for the failure of the government to come to the aid of the regency belonged with the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG), according to Kortanius. Since Muko-muko -- in Bengkulu -- was pinpointed as the epicenter, Bengkulu was getting most of the attention.

Kortanius said the Mentawai regency consisted of dozens of islands with isolated villages reachable only by boat, while telephone networks were found only in Mentawai and Sikakap.

He called for more help from both Jakarta and West Sumatra, especially humanitarian aid such as tents, medicines and blankets.

The provincial social affairs office of predominantly Muslim Padang had deployed a team to give aid to victims in the three predominantly Christian islands.

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