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Aceh quake victims moved amid lack of hospital staff
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A resident takes a photograph of a collapsed canopy after following an earthquake in Sigli, Aceh, on Wednesday. The quake destroyed several buildings. (serambinews.com/Idris Ismail)
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ictims of the 6.5-magnitude earthquake in Pidie Jaya regency were moved to Sigli General Hospital in neighboring Pidie regency due to a shortage of medical staff at Pidie Jaya General Hospital.
Royan, a volunteer with Aceh Police, said Pidie Jaya General Hospital was overwhelmed with dozens of victims, forcing some to be taken to the hospital in Sigli, about 60 kilometers from Pidie Jaya.
Family members of victims were becoming impatient as the injured were made to wait for services at the hospital in Pidie Jaya, he said, as quoted by news agency Antara.
About 30 victims suffering minor and serious injuries, like broken bones from falling debris, were being treated at the Pidie Jaya hospital on Wednesday morning.
Royan, who helped treat victims, said the government was sending medical staff and medicine to the Pidie Jaya hospital.
The earthquake, which struck at 5:03 a.m., caused dozens of buildings to collapse. Royan said some shops were damaged in the Pidie Jaya downtown area of Meureudu.
He said the government needed to send heavy equipment to Meureudu as some people were believed to be trapped inside buildings.
The Pidie Jaya Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) said on Wednesday morning that four people had and dozens had been injured. (evi)
UPDATE: The earlier version of this article stated that the earthquake in Aceh on Dec. 7 was measured at 6.4 on the Richter scale according to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG). BMKG later revised the figure to 6.5 on the Richter scale.
