Indonesian tsunami death toll rises to 413, almost 300 remain missing

[News_Editor]

Indonesian tsunami death toll rises to 413, almost 300 remain missing

2010-10-29 22:46:57 GMT+7 (ICT)

JAKARTA, INDONESIA (BNO NEWS) -- The latest death toll in the remote Indonesian islands of Mentawai after the tsunami caused by a 7.7-magnitude earthquake has risen to at least 413 with 298 people still missing, 267 critically injured, and another 142 suffering minor injuries, officials said Friday.

Hendri Doris Satoko, Chairman of the House of Representatives in the Mentawai Islands, said focus has shifted on providing medical assistance, logistics, and shelter for the victims as rescue searches continue to be carried out in the region.

Satoko said the regional police department of West Sumatra has been delivering food and good through Hercules aircraft, underling the humanitarian assistance provided by non-governmental organization (NGO) SurfAid.

Over 700 buildings have been affected, 500 of which have had heavy damage.

One of the biggest challenges national and international aid agencies have been facing is reaching the remote Mentawai Islands in order to provide assistance and to identify further humanitarian needs caused by the tsunami.

Mentawai Regent Edison Saleleubaja emphasized the difficulties of not having heavy equipment or transport vehicles to carry heavy equipment as an uncertain number of victims remain buried.

Saleleubaja added that a hospital will be set up in the Sikakap area, where all of the injured will be taken. However, the Mentawai Regent also underlined the difficulties behind evacuation. Weather conditions have made traveling by boat almost impossible, and local authorities have access to only three helicopters - two from the police department and one from the military. Furthermore, around 4,000 liters (1,056 gallons) of fuel has been provided.

Rescuers began to arrive at the islands on Wednesday, which were rattled by a massive 7.7-magnitude earthquake at 9.42 p.m. local time (1442 GMT) on Monday that generated the devastating tsunami. At least 10 villages were completely destroyed on the Mentawai Islands, located about 240 kilometers (149 miles) south of Padang, the capital and largest city of West Sumatra.

The initial earthquake struck about 20 kilometers (12.8 miles) deep, making it a shallow earthquake. Indonesia's seismological agency immediately issued a tsunami warning for nearby coastlines, but the warning came too late for villages on the Mentawai Islands where a three-meter (9.8-feet) tsunami devastated towns near the coast.

The affected population was initially estimated at 33,817 persons. However many islands have become inaccessible and the number of potentially affected people could be over 65,000.

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