Indonesia Hit by Deadly Major Disasters.

Major disasters hit Indonesia this October 2010. Massive flooding washed away everything in the Wasior, West Papua. Deadly tsunami devastated Mentawai islands, Padang, West Sumatra. And a volcanic eruption brought disorder everything surrounding mount Merapi, Central Java.

Until October 11th, it's reported that 145 people found dead and more than 100 were still missing because of this massive flooding disaster that hit Wasior, West Papua, early of the month. In October 25th, a 10-foot tsunami triggered by an earthquake swept away hundreds of homes, killing at least 113 Mentawai islands villagers. And, up to 500 others are missing. It’s feared the death toll will continue to grow.

Meanwhile, eruption of Mount Merapi, in the the next day, killed more than 100 people, forced thousands to flee down its slopes, and spewed burning ash and smoke high into the air on the island of Java. When I write this post, it’s still uncertainty whether this eruption of Merapi will stop soon or not.

Indonesia is a disaster prone country such as tsunami, earthquake, as well as volcanic eruption since this country lies in the Pacific “Ring of Fire”. And, because of climate change, this country seems to be often face catastrophic floods in the future. So, what should be done by Indonesian people in the future? Any idea?


*) picture at this post is taken from www.blogmasanton.info

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Powerful Earthquake Rattled West Sumatra, Indonesia

Powerful earthquake rattled West Sumatra, Indonesia, on Wednesday, September 30-th 2009. More than 1.000 people feared dead.

The leading local English newspaper, The Jakarta Post, Saturday - October 3-th/2009 3:47 PM reported that hundreds people feared dead as quake sinks hamlet. Below is the complete news taken from www.thejakartapost.com

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/10/03/west-sumatra-needs-10000-tents-quake-victim.html

Around 400 people have disappeared and are feared dead as the major earthquake that jolted West Sumatra on Wednesday sank Aia hamlet in Padang Pariaman regency. Head of the crisis center at the Ministry of Health, Rustam Pakaya, said a rescue team had managed to unearth 26 bodies.

“Let the rest go. Excavating the area will only spark diseases,” Rustam said was quoted by kompas.com. “The hamlet is completely flattened.” He said most of the victims were attending a wedding party when the powerful quake struck.

Quoting a search worker, Rustam said a mosque which stood 30 meters high in the hamlet had disappeared. The quake also caused two other hamlets, Cumanak and Lubuk Laweh, to submerge, killing nearly 200 people altogether.

West Sumatra needs 10,000 tents for quake victim.

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/10/03/west-sumatra-needs-10000-tents-quake-victim.html

Survivors of the major earthquake that rattled West Sumatra on Wednesday need at least 10,000 tents as the disaster has flattened many houses in the province, an official says. Deputy Governor Marlis Rahman said Saturday the local government had received humanitarian assistance from many parties, but only a few of them sent in tents.

“We are in dire need of tents, especially small ones that suit a family,” Marlis said as quoted by Antara. Data from the provincial disaster management agency reveals that over 21,700 houses were severely damaged by the quake. The displaced people have been seeking shelters at tents and tarpaulins erected outside their devastated houses or in squares near their residential areas.

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