Padang flies flags at half-mast in memory of disaster

The administration of Padang in West Sumatra has asked residents to fly flags at half-mast on Friday to mark the anniversary of an earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale that struck the city in 2009, killing at least 383 people.

Padang Deputy Mayor Mahyeldi also urged residents to pray for the victims of the earthquake. The administration is scheduled to hold a memorial service at the Earthquake Monument on Friday at noon.

Padang mayor Fauzi Bahar is also scheduled to sound a siren at 5:15 p.m, the time that the earthquake struck.

However, not all residents were aware of the anniversary.

"I was confused and thought that a national figure had died because there were many flags at half-mast [...] It turns out they were for the second anniversary of the quake," Rudi, a resident of Parak Lawas, said Friday as reported by kompas.com.