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May 30, 2006
Yogya earthquake
I was on the phone with my mum last night and she updated me with the latest info on the earthquake. She said me that the earthquake can be felt all the way in my hometown Madiun. I never realised the earthquake was that big. I was down in Melbourne when I saw the news about the earthquake in Yogya, quickly I dismissed the disaster since Madiun is quite far from Yogya and the closest relative that I have is my cousin's family in Solo. LIttle did I realise that the damages from the quake are all the way up to Solo. Several buildings was destroyed in villages on the outskirt of Solo, fortunately no one is seriously injured in Solo. The same can't be said in Yogya. The heavy rains during the 2 days after the earthquake severly hamper the rescue effort, however despite the chaos there are some order. Ambulances from all over Java have been sent to Yogya and patients have been transferred into hospitals all around Java, even to Madiun's hospitals and up to Tulungagung, Mum said that food and medical aids have been sent, although she said that she's seen mostly instant noodles and wondering how the people will cook it :)
My dad witnessed first hand the chaos the day after the earthquake. A close family friend's son lives in Yogya managing the family business. On Sunday morning, dad went along with him to Yogya, he is safe and sound and while the shop is damaged, it's not that bad. Yogya is in total chaos, ambulance and fire engines were running around everywhere, food is impossible to get and people had to queue in public kitchens, those who can afford to get out from Yogya have done so. The famous Jalan Malioboro also suffered some damaged.
What makes this earthquake worse is the densely populated island of Java. In an area just over half the size of Victoria, Java is popuilated by 124 million people. Any disaster is bound to inflict high number of casualties.
Mum said that everyone in Java (and Indonesia to some extent) now has their own interpretation about what's happening in recent time. Last year we had the tsunami, a few weeks ago the Merapi is looking very angry and has been spewing hot ashes and Lava and now the earthquake. Bleak time is ahead for Indonesia she reckons.
Another casualty in this earthquake is the damage of the ancient Hindu temple Prambanan. I've visited Prambanan twice when back when I was in Indonesia it was really majestic, second only compared to Borobudur. I can only hope that the government will put an effort to restore the temple.
Posted by vhadiant at May 30, 2006 01:11 PM
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