Indonesia Needs Help,
Death Toll Expected To Exceed 400,000
Bernama (unfamiliar source)
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".
(snip)
"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.
(snip) continue reading at above link
Mata Musing
I have seen so many of the extraordinary, but heartbreaking videos and photos coming out of this. Nothing left of the towns. No sign of life on the few hills around. This is the first population estimate I've seen published for these remote towns. Staggering, just staggering. Humanity is present but a fleeting moment of time in the universe... and we are oh so fragile.
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