By NNN-Bernama,
Tasikmalaya, Indonesia : More than 25,000 quake-affected people in west Indonesia have moved to makeshift tents on Friday, Disaster Management Agency said on Friday.
The 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia’s West Java on Wednesday, leaving 59 people dead and 37 others missing, China’s Xinhua news agency said citing the latest report.
Fears of aftershocks also prompted the affected people to stay outside, as moderate tremors have been recorded after the powerful quake.
“I expect the government to help rebuild my house, because my house has totally collapsed,” said Suminem, 40, who took shelter in a makeshift tent near her damaged house in the worst-hit Tasikmalaya of West Java.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhyono on Thursday assured that the government would use national resources to cope with the aftermath of the disaster.
Rescue operation for 37 people buried in the debris has been under way in Cianjur.
Indonesian Health Ministry has also provided additional assistance to the operation, including 5 tonnes of baby food and other logistics, Pakaya said.
He said the quake damaged many health facilities, including one hospital.
Indonesia, with a population of over 230 million, sits on a vulnerable quake-hit zone so called the Pacific Ring of Fire, where two continental plates meet, stretching from Western hemisphere to Japan, and cause frequent seismic and volcanic movements.