75 dead in Indonesian quake
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The Indonesian government would send six ministers to inspect the impacts of the strong quake that hit West Sumatra which so far has killed 75 people, Vice President Jusuf Kalla said?in Jakarta?on Wednesday.
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A video grab shows a foot among the wreckage of a building following an earthquake in Padang on Indonesia's Sumatra island September 30, 2009. [Xinhua]? |
Speaking on the sidelines of a particular ministers meeting to discuss efforts to handle the impact of the 7.6 magnitude quake that hit West Sumatra province, Jusuf Kalla said that the government has set a 2-month emergency response period to help the quake victims.
"We are preparing for the worst since we learned that the quake was far stronger than what had happened in Tasikmalaya recently," Jusuf said.
He was referring to the 7.3 magnitude quake in West Java regency of Tasikmalaya that occurred earlier this month, killing at least 100 people.
He said that the government would dispatch 30 doctors from Jakarta embedded with the minister's entourage to the disaster area that will depart early Thursday morning.
Jusuf said that at least 100 doctors and basic medical facilities would be prepared in the quake scene, particularly in Pariaman, the area that reportedly suffered the most from the quake.
"I already received reports that many were still trapped under the rubble of hotels and houses. Dead victims were also reported in the hospitals. We predicted that the victim number could be increasing," Jusuf said.
As of now the rescue efforts are disrupted by the absence of electricity and communication equipment, the vice president said.
The government would rescue the quake victims in Padang, referring to its handling on the victims of strong quakes in Jogjakarta in 2006 and in Tasikmalaya recently.
