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December 30, 2004
Indonesia Needs Help, Death Toll Expected To Exceed 400,000
Topics: Southeast Asia Earthquake and Tsunami(Bernama.com via Drudge)
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. Continue reading....
Posted by Hyscience at December 30, 2004 10:47 PM
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