INDONESIA: SEARCH FOR EARTHQUAKE SURVIVORS CONTINUES ON NIAS ISLAND, PRESIDENT ARRIVES.
Record ID:
584774
INDONESIA: SEARCH FOR EARTHQUAKE SURVIVORS CONTINUES ON NIAS ISLAND, PRESIDENT ARRIVES.
- Title: INDONESIA: SEARCH FOR EARTHQUAKE SURVIVORS CONTINUES ON NIAS ISLAND, PRESIDENT ARRIVES.
- Date: 31st March 2005
- Summary: (BN04) NIAS ISLAND, INDONESIA (MARCH 31, 2005) (REUTERS) 1. GV: DESTROYED BUILDING 0.03 2. GV/MV/CU: PEOPLE HAMMERING THROUGH RUBBLE TO FIND TRAPPED PEOPLE (4 SHOTS) 0.30 3. VARIOUS: INDONESIAN MILITARY ARRIVING AND STARTING SEARCH FOR SURVIVORS (14 SHOTS) 1.51 4. MV/CU: SOLDIER STANDING NEAR MAN TRAPPED UNDERNEATH RUBBLE; SOLDIERS WORKING; PEOPLE WATCHING; SOLDIERS PASSING SUPPLIES THROUGH HOLE (6 SHOTS) 2.28 5. LV/GV: PRESIDENTIAL HELICOPTERS ARRIVING IN NIAS; GUARDS WAITING; HELICOPTERS (4 SHOTS) 2.47 6. GV: PRESIDENT SUSILO BAMBANG YUDHOYONO AND DELEGATION ARRIVING AND BEING GREETED BY NIAS OFFICIALS 3.03 7. MV: PRESS 3.06 8. MV/PAN: PRESIDENT YUDHOYONO WALKING INTO AIRPORT HANGER 3.14 9. GV/MV: PRESIDENT YUDHOYONO AND HIS DELEGATION BEING BRIEFED AT AIRPORT (4 SHOTS) 3.30 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 15th April 2005 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: NIAS ISLAND, INDONESIA
- Country: Indonesia
- Reuters ID: LVA92S3IATV7XKFM470DLLBFGH2D
- Story Text: Aftershocks rattle Nias island as search for
survivors continues.
Strong aftershocks rattled earthquake-devastated
Nias island on Thursday (March 31) as international aid
flowed in and rescuers pulled survivors out of the rubble
of collapsed buildings. At least three tremors rocked the
area off the west coast of Indonesia's Sumatra island, one
of them measured at 6.3 on the Richter scale by the Hong
Kong observatory, causing alarm as rescue efforts and body
recovery operations entered a third day.
Indonesian military soldiers and Nias residents
struggled to comb through the rubble to save the trapped
victims as proper rescue equipment has not yet reached the
remote island.
French firefighters pulled a woman from the rubble of
her home alive in the early morning, more than 48 hours
after the massive 8.7 magnitude quake struck on Monday
night (March 28).
A contingent of Australian medics had also arrived on
the island. Three Singaporean Chinook helicopters ferried
the worst injured off the island to the Sumatran mainland.
As many as 2,000 people are feared to have died and
many more are believed trapped under the rubble, according
to Indonesian officials. A U.N. statement said some 500
were confirmed killed, adding that the number was expected
to rise.
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono arrived
on the earthquake-devastated island for an overnight stay
after one of the biggest earthquakes since 1900.
Yudhoyono was said to be pleased with the international
aid response, but said there was much work ahead in trying
to find survivors out of the rubble of collapsed buildings
in the worst hit areas of the island.
Crucial aid began flowing into Nias on Wednesday (March
30) as international agencies and the United Nations
diverted efforts from Aceh province on Sumatra, which was
hardest hit by the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami
three months ago that left more than 220,000 Indonesians
dead or missing.
Strong aftershocks from the 8.7 magnitude quake rattled
the island and frightened many residents who said they
spent the night outside their damaged homes for fear of
additional collapses. Aftershocks continued as relief
effort started to build on Indonesian isle.
Yudhoyono was due to tour the worst hit areas in the
island where he plans to spend the night in a makeshift
tent.
Large parts of Nias, famed as a surfing paradise, have
been damaged and much of Gunungsitoli has been flattened.
Several hundred people are reported to have died on the
isolated Banyak island group just north of Nias.
An Australian surfer who was sailing near the epicentre
of the quake when it happened said it sent shudders through
his boat, then caused the ocean to swirl 180 degrees,
dragging the 21-metre (70-ft) craft backwards.
The British embassy in Jakarta said "a small number" of
its nationals were missing.
Asked if there are any Americans believed missing, a
U.S. embassy spokesman said about 10 people were
unaccounted for.
The U.S. Navy hospital ship Mercy and supply ship
Niagara Falls, which carries three helicopters, were
expected to arrive off Nias in about six days. Japanese
medics are also due soon.
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