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PALU, Indonesia (Reuters) – Rescuers searched the rubble of devastated communities on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi last Thursday in search of victims of a magnitude 7.5 earthquake and tsunami that killed more than two people 000 people two weeks ago.
Recovered personal belongings are photographed outside a house in the Balaroa district of Palu, Sulawesi District, Indonesia, hit by the earthquake and liquefaction on October 11, 2018. REUTERS / Darren Whiteside
As a reminder of the treacherous tectonics of Indonesia, a magnitude 6 earthquake hit early Thursday the Indonesian islands of Java and Bali, killing three people in Java, damaging buildings and causing panic.
The annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank are taking place this week in Bali. More than 19,000 delegates and other guests, including ministers, central bank directors and country leaders, attended.
On the west coast of Sulawesi, hundreds of kilometers northeast of Bali, the official balance sheet of the earthquake and tsunami that struck the seaside town of Palu on September 28 was 2,045.
(Graph: Destruction at Palu – tmsnrt.rs/2IDFukK)
Some 10,000 rescuers worked hard for a final day as relatives of the missing were tied to their latest hopes of finding the bodies of their loved ones and burying them appropriately.
"I have no more tears, all I want is to find them," said Ahmad, a 43-year-old farmer who was waiting near a pile of debris that was at home in the neighborhood. from Balaroa to Palu.
His wife and two daughters disappeared in the ruins.
Balaroa and other parts of Palu have been devastated by liquefaction, which occurs when an earthquake shakes a soft, moist soil, turning it into a viscous and swirling liquid.
The third daughter of Ahmad was seriously injured and was taken to Makassar City for treatment.
"She is all that remains to me. Everything I own, all the others, is gone, "he said.
(Graph: Disaster in Sulawesi – tmsnrt.rs/2OqQlUo)
"DOIG TO DIG"
Nobody knows how many people have yet to be found in Balaroa and in other neighborhoods, but there could be up to 5,000, according to the National Disaster Prevention Agency.
Rescue teams work with residents to try to determine where the victims might be. However, it is essentially conjecture because of the distance traveled by the soil during liquefaction.
"We hope families will understand that there is very little hope at this stage," said research volunteer Hadrianos Poliamar.
"At the same time, if they ask us to help, if they point their hand, look here, my family is under the bar," of course, we can not say "no," we have to dig. We want to help as much as possible. "
The government canceled the body search starting Thursday, citing concerns about the spread of the disease, and is starting to focus on the next phase – reconstruction.
Destruction data is being compiled and mapping is being done to help determine where to build new homes.
The danger of tsunamis near the coast north of Palu and the liquefaction of soils in the south is the main concern.
The areas affected by liquefaction will be transformed into parks, sports fields and memorials.
Nofal Surya, 37, has lost 15 members of his extended family to Balaroa. The bodies of only seven people were found.
"If I am my heart, of course, I want research to continue. But I think I have to agree never to find them, "he said.
Written by Robert Birsel; Edited by Paul Tait
