Powerful Earthquake Hits Indonesia, Nearly a Hundred Killed

A strong earthquake has shaken Aceh province in Indonesia last Wednesday, leaving nearly a hundred dead while 500 were injured. A State of Emergency was declared in Aceh, a place found at the northern tip of Sumatra Island.

The death toll could still rise. The earthquake happened last Wednesday, December 7 at 5am.

Sutopo Nugroho from the national disaster management agency said, "We are now focusing on searching for victims and possible survivors". Rescuers are using earth movers and their bare hands to look for survivors. Medical volunteers were also quick to respond to the call; they had been sending people to the hospital although they might not be able to hold still with the influx of injured. Nugroho admitted that there are currently 1,000 personnel plus the military officers and volunteers that were deployed in order to be of help in the disaster relief.

Several buildings collapsed and rescuers believe that there are people who are trapped under the debris. Even places near Aceh province were not spared from the threat of the earthquake. Major General Tatang Sulaiman confirmed that there were 52 who died in Pidie Jaya, a district close to Aceh.

Puteh A Manaf, the chief of the local disaster management agency said that "Several mosques, other public facilities, and houses collapsed due to the earthquake, but we still don't have the exact number of how many buildings damaged".

No tsunami warning was raised but five aftershocks were felt after. People are advised to stay out to save themselves if another strong earthquake occurs. 

It should be remembered that the region also suffered from the same destruction in 2004 when it was hit by a 9.2 magnitude quake that triggered a tsunami. The 2004 earthquake triggered a tsunami that was strong enough to wipe out several communities in Indonesia and even countries surrounding the Indian Ocean.