Guest Posted December 31, 2004 Report Share Posted December 31, 2004 Indonesia Needs Help, Death Toll Expected To Exceed 400,000 Thu Dec 30 2004 12:52:01 ET KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 30 (Bernama) -- The death toll in Acheh, the region worst hit by last Sunday's tsunami, may exceed 400,000 as many affected areas could still not be reached for search and rescue operations, Indonesia's Ambassador to Malaysia Drs H. Rusdihardjo said Thursday. He said the estimate was based on air surveillance by Indonesian authorities who found no signs of life in places like Meulaboh, Pulau Simeulue and Tapak Tuan while several islands off the west coast of Sumatera had "disappeared". He said the latest death toll of more than 40,000 in Acheh and northern Sumatera did not take into account the figures from the other areas, especially in the west of the region. "Aerial surveillance found the town of Meulaboh completely destroyed with only one buiding standing. The building, which belonged to the military, happens to be on a hill," he told reporters after receiving RM1 million in aid for Indonesia's Tsunami Disaster Relief Fund here Thursday. Rusdihardjo said there were about 150,000 residents in Meulaboh, which was located 150km from the epicentre of the earthquake while Pulau Simeuleu had a population of 76,000. Ambassador Rusdihardjo said a combination of earthquake and tsunami had left 80 to 100 per cent of infrastructure in Acheh province, such as hospitals, health centres, transport and communication networks and homes, destroyed. "Looking at the scale of destruction, it's difficult to say when the search and rescue operations can be mounted in all affected areas," he said. He said rescue efforts were hampered by transportation difficulties and lack of fuel. Rusdihardjo said that at this time international help, especially in the form of medicines, clean water, food and clothing, were desperately needed by Indonesia to aid survivors in Acheh. "Now we are worried about the outbreak of diseases such as cholera, the work of disposing corpses and the absence of clean water following the contamination of water sources," he said. It would take years before the situation returned to normal, he said, adding that the Indonesian government was not able to estimate losses caused by the tragedy as yet. He expressed his gratitude to Malaysia's help although the country itself was hit with 66 lives lost so far and property to the tune of millions of ringgit destroyed. "We are deeply touched," he said. Rusdihardjo said Indonesia was also seeking Malaysia's cooperation to mount search and rescue operations from its shores because of the close proximity of the two countries. -- BERNAMA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 31, 2004 Report Share Posted December 31, 2004 Hard to believe - really hard to believe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thalenoi Posted December 31, 2004 Report Share Posted December 31, 2004 What And it takes the Indonesian authorities 6 days to have just a clue of the size of devastation??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jxxxl Posted December 31, 2004 Report Share Posted December 31, 2004 As I understand it, parts of Indonesia are extremely remote. Islands for example can only be reached by sea or air, and with limited resources some of these islands are left on their own. I just don't think Indonesia have nearly enough resources to respond to something this huge. The satellite pictures are just freightening. It looks like the earthquake knowned everything down and the waves washed away the rubble - and people. There's nothing left. :: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pattaya127 Posted December 31, 2004 Report Share Posted December 31, 2004 If this is so, this will become one of the worst natural disasters of all registered history. A China quake in 1976 may have killed between 250 and 600 000 people, during and after, but the paper today has only one other disaster that killed so many, some 800 000 in 1556! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torneyboy Posted December 31, 2004 Report Share Posted December 31, 2004 It just so unreal... these figures just double every day. This is going to be a very long and slow process. Very sad indeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 31, 2004 Report Share Posted December 31, 2004 P127, could you please post some links? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whosyourdaddy Posted January 1, 2005 Report Share Posted January 1, 2005 Speechless. Actually I can think of two words: FUCKING HELL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pe7e Posted January 1, 2005 Report Share Posted January 1, 2005 The deadliest earthquake in history hit the eastern Mediterranean in July 1201. Approximately 1.1 million people were killed, mostly in Egypt and Syria. The deadliest drought in history occurred in China between 1876 and 1879. Rivers dried up, crops and livestock died. The drought led to the deaths of 9,000,000 people. The worst flood in history happened in China in 1887. The Yellow River overflowed its banks, leading to the deaths of 900,000 people. web page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pattaya127 Posted January 1, 2005 Report Share Posted January 1, 2005 correct. I now see the article was about earthquakes. the worse this century so far, OK? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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