Indonesia, Earthquakes, Tsunamis, Airplane Crashes
"Mamuju is now empty, everyone went to the mountains.""Lots of buildings collapsed and people are afraid of a tsunami."Muhammad Ansari Iriyanto, 31, Mamuju resident"It is certainly one of the most challenging, this [disaster] was one of our fears and now we are putting all of that planning and protocols into place."Jan Gelfand, head, International Federation of Red Cross in Indonesia
With a population of over 260 million, Indonesia's location on the "Ring of Fire", an arc comprised of volcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific Basin, ensures its vulnerability as a frequent victim of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis. On Friday, the Indonesian island of Sulawesi suffered a powerful tremor as a 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck, trapping people under rubble, unleashing dozens of aftershocks. Authorities gave warning of more quakes to follow that might result in a tsunami.
Earthquakes frequently strike there with deadly consequences. In 2018 a devastating quake of the same magnitude and a tsunami that followed killed thousands in the city of Palu, in Sulawesi. In 2004 a 9.1-magnitude quake off Sumatra island triggered a tsunami on Boxing Day lashing coastal areas of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and nine other nations for a death toll of over 230,000.
Fearful residents in their thousands streamed out of homes making for higher ground after the quake struck six kilometres northeast of the town of Majene, its depth 10 km. Over 300 homes and two hotels were damaged by the quake and its aftershocks. An area hospital was destroyed along with the office of a regional governor where several people were trapped under the rubble when the building was flattened.
To the present, the number of dead stands at 56 with close to a thousand people injured. Seismic activity caused three landslides, severed electricity lines downed, and damaged bridges linking to regional hubs. Heavy rain hampered rescue efforts and made conditions even worse for the homeless seeking shelter. The residents await with an agony of trepidation the appearance of a tsunami that another powerful quake could unleash.
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| Residents gather at a makeshift shelter in Mamuju on Saturday, a day after the quake rocked Indonesia's Sulawesi island. (Muhammad Rifki/AFP via Getty Images) |
Since the initial quake another 26 aftershocks had occurred. Friday's quake had been preceded by a quake of 5.9 magnitude the day before. People panicked, seeking refuge in the nearby hills as residents fled to higher ground on motorcycles. People desperately tried to shift debris with their hands to rescue a young girl trapped under rubble. Rescue workers made use of all available equipment in hopes of freeing survivors and locating the dead.
Restoring bridge links to ensure the delivery of tents, food and medical supplies is the highest priority of emergency workers, for the 15,000 people who have fled their homes since the quake occurred. Expectations are that distribution of aid will be complicated by the coronavirus pandemic.
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| Rescuers search for survivors at a collapsed building in Mamuju city on Saturday. (Hariandi Hafid/AFP via Getty Images) |
Labels: Earthquake, Indonesia, Natural Disasters
posted by Pieface @ Monday, January 18, 2021
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