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January 8, 2005

Annan wonders where are the people?

Topics: Southeast Asia Earthquake and Tsunami

Truly astononishing, one-third of Meulaboh's 120,000 people were killed when the giant waves ripped through on December 26.

SwissInfo via Belmont Club

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan is touring Indonesia's tsunami-ravaged Aceh province, flying by helicopter to the razed town of Meulaboh, beyond which is a black hole of devastation.

"I must admit I have never seen such utter destruction, mile after mile. You wonder, where are the people?," said Annan on Friday on his return to the provincial capital, Banda Aceh.

Meulaboh on the west coast of the island of Sumatra is just 150 km (93 miles) from the epicentre of the undersea earthquake that sent a tsunami across Asia killing more the 153,000 people.

The United Nations estimates that one-third of Meulaboh's 120,000 people were killed when the giant waves ripped through on December 26.

"I am deeply overwhelmed with the misery I just saw with my own eyes," said an emotional Tadao Chino, president of the Asian Development Bank who accompanied Annan, along with the leaders of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.    Read more....

Posted by Hyscience at January 8, 2005 12:33 AM

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