Tides recede, Cemara villagers return

Panca Nugraha ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Mataram   |  Fri, 05/09/2008 9:38 AM  |  The Archipelago

Villagers who fled Cemara village in Lembar, West Lombok, got back home Thursday as the tidal surges which engulfed the village Wednesday gradually subsided.

The West Lombok administration supplied humanitarian aid including rice and instant noodles to the victims.

Rudi Hidayat, regency head of social affairs, said the government distributed food aid and drugs to all victims, including those who had returned home, because they could not yet cook in their damaged houses.

"We have distributed one ton of rice and 10 boxes of instant noodles. We have also supplied packaged rice to villagers who are staying at temporary shelters in Lembar. The situation is under control. Tidal waves occurred again this morning but on a small scale and many residents have returned home," he said.

Up to 150 villagers fled their homes when rising waves, which reached 2.8 meters, engulfed the village. They went to temporary shelters in Lembar.

Rusdi also said he coordinated with the local health office to distribute medical aid and drugs in anticipation of a possible spread of diseases such as diarrhea and skin disorders.

He said he had received a satellite image from the Indonesian Red Cross which forecast that high waves would recur in the next three days but would not be as high as on Wednesday.

The social affairs office in coordination with other authorities have set up two emergency posts deploying doctors, rescuers, police and military personnel in anticipation of post-disaster needs in the next three days.

Lembar village head Lalu Witakaryadi said most villagers were no longer in panic but that they were badly affected by damage to ten hectares of fish and shrimp ponds.

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