Red Cross to send medical team to Tasikmalaya

The Indonesian Red Cross is set to dispatch a medical team to Tasikmalaya, West Java, to assist victims of the earthquake that shook the province Wednesday afternoon.

The team comprises two doctors, three nurses and one administrator. In a release received by The Jakarta Post on Thursday, Iwan Ridwanudin from the Red Cross’ Medical Action Team said the team was scheduled to leave in an ambulance at 10 p.m. and the first destination would be the Tasikmalaya Red Cross office.

“From there, we will decide on which disaster-hit locations to visit,” he added.

He said the team would first collect relevant data on the number of injured victims and assess their medical conditions. The team will supply first aid, medication and antibiotics to the victims.

“We will run a mobile clinic in some shelters; we might also open a field hospital, if needed,” Iwan said.

At least 57 people were killed and 110 hospitalised after the strong 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Java. (adh)