ABC AUSTRALIA, 14/10/2002 11:06:25
Thousands of tourists try to escape Bali
A mass exodus of tourists from the Indonesian island of Bali is in full swing after a
bombing which demolished nighclubs in the island's popular tourist area at Kuta
beach.
Indonesian authorities say at least 187 people were killed and another 309 injured. At
least 13 Australians were killed and 220 remain unaccounted for.
The injured survivors of the bombings are still the priority evacuees, with the remainder
getting on any planes they can, including extra flights that have been scheduled by
Australia's Qantas airline.
Concerns for the injured
From Bali, Alan Atkinson reports there are problems identifying the dead.
"Doctors at the Sanglah hospital at Denpasar, where the bodies were taken, are being
hampered by the fact that many of the victims suffered severe burns. "
Atkinson says that "While urgently needed medical equipment has arrived from
Jakarta and overseas, there are still grave fears for many of the more severely injured
victims who require intensive care."
"At Denpasar airport, Qantas officials are preparing for an influx of more Australian
travellers heading home. Three extra flights are so far planned, two to Sydney and one
to Perth," Atkinson says.
Darwin hospital takes injured
Staff at the Royal Darwin Hospital in northern Australia are rallying to treat the latest
plane-load of patients to arrive from Bali.
Danielle Parry reports, "The 22 Australians, Canadians, Americans and New
Zealanders were airlifted to Darwin by R-double-A-F Hercules, among them many of
the most critically injured wrapped in heavy bandages."
"They've been ferried in a convoy of ambulances to the Royal Darwin Hospital where
14 other victims were brought in the early hours of this morning. "
"One person also died en-route to Darwin. The hospital has cancelled elective surgery
to open up more beds. It's understod up to 100 patients could be admitted," Parry
says.
14/10/2002 11:06:25 | ABC Radio Australia News
© 2001 Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
