Earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia: helpers continue search for survivors

After the tsunami disaster that killed hundreds of people in Indonesia, rescue workers resumed the search for survivors on Monday. The work on the island of Sulawesi, according to the helpers, however, made difficult by the fact that it lacks technical equipment and fuel. The military flew generators because the power is still interrupted after two heavy earthquakes and the following tidal wave from Friday in many places.

In the particularly heavily hit city of Palu more dead were pulled out of the rubble. According to the National Civil Protection Authority, two survivors could be rescued from a hotel and a restaurant. At night, the search was then interrupted. The authority wants to present a new interim balance around 13 o'clock (8 o'clock CEST).

Meanwhile, Indonesia has also requested international help. President Joko Widodo asked the Investment Authority of the 260-million-nation country to coordinate the assistance. This said the head of the authority, Thomas Lembong, on Monday in the capital Jakarta. Previously, numerous states and international organizations had already offered assistance, including the European Union.

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According to official figures, the earthquake and tsunami killed at least 832 people on the west coast of Indonesia's fourth largest island. There are also many hundreds injured. However, it is feared that these numbers will rise significantly - partly because emergency forces have not yet access to some of the affected regions. Especially in the municipality of Donggala in the north many victims are feared.

Nugroho Budi Wiryanto, director of state search teams in Palu, said: "There is hardly any heavy equipment and practically no fuel, which makes it very difficult for us to rescue victims." In many places, people diged for missing persons with their bare hands. In addition, the communication links were interrupted at the weekend, said the official. "Hopefully this is good enough today and we have more success."

Many residents complained that they did not get enough help from the authorities. "There is no one at all from the government or any other organization to organize the burial of the bodies," said Amir Sidiq. "We do it all ourselves."

Video: Tsunami in Indonesia - more than 800 deaths

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REUTERS

A military spokesman pointed out that the excavation of mass graves had begun. "We're going to bury the dead as fast as we can," said Air Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto. "I hope that's done in a day or two." Palu alone killed more than 800 people. Many victims are still buried in the rubble.

The authorities also blame the many victims for the faulty warning system. When the meter-high wave with destructive force over the coastal mile of the island's capital Palu broke in, there still many people were staying on the beach. "There was no siren, and many people were unaware of the danger, so they went to work on the beach," said Indonesian civil protection spokesman Sutopo Nugroho.

Video footage shows how the up to three-meter-high waves hit the western coastal town on Friday and along with people and boats tore entire houses with them. Shortly before, Sulawesi had been shaken by two 5.9 and 7.4 magnitude earthquakes.

Ama teurvideo: Tsunami meets Palu

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REUTERS

Indonesia, with more than 260 million inhabitants, is one of the most populous states on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a geologically very active zone. There the earth quakes again and again.

On Christmas Day 2004, an earthquake off the coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra triggered a tsunami that resulted in the deaths of some 230,000 people in the eastern coastal states of the Indian Ocean.