The Jakarta Post, February 01, 2006
Weekend quake leaves two dead
AMBON, Maluku: Two people died in a magnitude 7.3 earthquake that shook the
Maluku islands early Saturday, sending thousands of residents fleeing to higher
ground in fear of a tsunami.
The districts of Bula in Seram regency and Masohi in Central Maluku regency were
the worst-affected areas in the quake.
Both of the victims, including a three-month-ol! d boy, were from Masohi. The toddler
died after being accidentally trampled by panicked members of his family. The other
victim died of a heart attack.
The quake also damaged houses and other buildings in the area around Masohi Plaza
in Central Maluku.
Most of those people displaced by the quake are being housed in public buildings,
including schools. Residents remain on edge, with many civil servants failing to report
to work Monday and many students taking the day off.
"Some residents whose houses were damaged brought all of their belongings with
them to the temporary shelters," said Edi Pattisahusiwa, a civil servant in the Central
Maluku administration.
Edi said that when the earthquake struck at about 2 a.m. he and his family fled to a
nearby mountain, fearing aftershocks and a tsunami. The family has still not returned
to their home.
"It's better to stay here than be caugh! t unprepared if disaster strikes," said Edi, a
father of six. -- JP
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