Stop searching for bodies: West Sumatra MUI

The West Sumatra branch of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) issued Tuesday an edict ordering search and rescue teams to stop searching for bodies in the aftermath of last week’s powerful earthquake.

"This edict is issued after we visited the disaster location and talked with volunteers who are still digging for bodies in Padang Pariaman," said West Sumatra MUI official Gusrizar.

He added it would be difficult to identify most of those killed, thus making it “pointless to search for more bodies”.

The call comes a day after rescue efforts were officially called off, making the MUI’s edict pointless.

However, Gusrizar said, the SAR team should stay in the disaster areas to recover bodies that might be unearthed by rains.