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From MISNAOct. 27-29, 2010
Earthquake and Volcano Eruption: Fr. Ciroi on the site of a destroyed village, providing Solidarity in Mentawai Islands
The death toll of the tsunami that on Monday hit the Mentawai
Islands has risen to over 400, disaster response officials report today, as
MISNA sources stress the growing solidarity for the victims. Agus Prayitno, of
the West Sumatra provincial disaster management agency, said the official death
toll has reached 408 dead and some 400 still missing, almost all in South Pagai,
the most southern island of the Mentawai hit by the powerful tsunami.
Also today rescue efforts continue with helicopters, planes and boats,
transporting food, medicine, tents and other aid to the at least 20,000
displaced. Father Franco Qualizza, parish priest of Padang, capital of West
Sumatra off the Mentawai, spoke to MISNA of the widespread national solidarity
for the victims: “At every crossway there are people collecting money for those
who lest everything”, explains the Xaverian missionary.
An editorial of the Jakarta Post today titles, “Living with disasters”, reminds
that the South East Asian archipelago boasts a geography, geology and topography
that bless the country with an abundance of natural resources, but lives with
the constant threat of devastating natural disasters. The Merapi Volcano, in the
heart of Java Island, that over the past days left at least 38 dead, erupted
again this morning. “Here in Padang many cannot forget last year’s quake, which
caused entire buildings to collapse, leaving over 800 dead”, said Father Franco.
MISNA sources reached in the Mentawai said that residents of the other islands
continue following developments over the radio and TV. “The people are trying to
gather money to send emergency aid”, said to MISNA Father Antonius Wahyudiyanto,
parish priest of Siberut, the largest Island of the archipelago. The TV aired
footage of the arrival of a first air cargo carrying food, tents and medicine at
the North Pagai airport, chosen as a base for rescue operations.
Also four helicopters landed later, while soldiers and many volunteers continue
departing from Sumatra to join rescue efforts. In Siberut there is also growing
concern over the other Indonesian drama. Based on updates, the eruption of the
Merapi Volcano on Java Island has left over 30 dead. The thoughts of the nation
go also to them, in a renewed sense of unity.
“Our community is made up of people of different faiths: we are all praying
together for the victims, mostly Christians in the Mentawai and Mislims in
Java”, added Fr. Antonius.
“Students are collecting money on the streets from tourists and passing people
to send to the victims of the tsunami in the Mentawai islands. Our Bishop
Martinus Dogma Situmorang of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, also chairman
of the Indonesian Bishops Conference, is coordinating humanitarian assistance
with the Caritas”, said to MISNA Father Angelo Capannini, a Xaverian missionary
in Indonesia for 35 years, reached by phone at the provincial house of Padang,
capital of the West Sumatra province, off the Mentawai Islands archipelago
hard-hit by a 7.7-magnitude quake and tsunami on October 25.
“The local media has not updated the toll today from 311 dead and over 300
missing. The serious problem is getting aid to the scene: the archipelago is
basically only accessible by boat or small plane”, explained Fr. Capannini. The
threat appears to be lowering on the southern island of Java, where the eruption
of the Merapi Volcano left at least 38 people dead, whose funerals have already
been celebrated. Between 20,000 and 50,000 displaced are currently in shelters
set up near Yogyakarta, capital of Java. Experts however warned that it is still
too early for evacuees to return to their homes in the areas affected by the
eruption.
“Entire villages were swept away, the toll is destined to rise by the hour”,
said to MISNA Father Silvano Zulian, a Xaverian missionary who has lived for
over 30 years in the Mentawai Islands, hit by the tsunami. Based on updates
released today by the West Sumatra National Disaster Management Agency, the
tsunami that struck the west Indonesian archipelago left at least 154 dead and
some 400 missing.
Fr. Zulian however warned that the toll is preliminary, given that
communications have been down since Monday with the Mentawai Islands, and aid
vessels have not yet reached the area. The worst-hit area is South Pagai, the
furthest south and closest to the epicentre of the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that
triggered the tsunami. Fr. Zulian lived in the area for many years, before the
Xaverians moved further north to Sipora and Siberut.
“They live mainly on fishing, growing potatoes and collecting forest fruit”,
remembered the missionary. The government has dispatched four ships with medical
provisions and food aid. A cargo ship transporting 16 tonnes of tents should be
the first to reach South Pagai maybe today. Indonesia’s President Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono left the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) summit
underway in Vietnam to fly over the affected areas and coordinate emergency
operations. In addition to the devastation caused by the tsunami in the Mentawai
Islands, also the eruption of the Merapi volcano has so far left 28 dead. The
volcano is in an entirely different area on the Island of Java, but always along
the Ring of Fire that embraces the Indonesian archipelago.
