Bernama.com
Malaysian National News Agency
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/news_lite.php?id=111574
December 30, 2004
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 30 (Bernama) -- The death toll in Acheh, the region worst
hit by last Sunday's tsunami, may exceed 400,000 as many affected areas could
still not be reached for search and rescue operations, Indonesia's Ambassador to
Malaysia Drs H. Rusdihardjo said Thursday.
He said the estimate was based on air surveillance by Indonesian authorities who
found no signs of life in places like Meulaboh, Pulau Simeulue and Tapak Tuan
while several islands off the west coast of Sumatera had
"disappeared".
He said the latest death toll of more than 40,000 in Acheh and northern Sumatera
did not take into account the figures from the other areas, especially in the
west of the region.
"Aerial surveillance found the town of Meulaboh completely destroyed with
only one buiding standing. The building, which belonged to the military, happens
to be on a hill," he told reporters after receiving RM1 million in aid for
Indonesia's Tsunami Disaster Relief Fund here Thursday.
Rusdihardjo said there were about 150,000 residents in Meulaboh, which was
located 150km from the epicentre of the earthquake while Pulau Simeuleu had a
population of 76,000.
The contributions were from several corporate giants.
Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB), represented by Chairman Tan Sri Ahmad Sarji
Abdul Hamid, gave RM200,000; Guthrie, represented by Chief Executive Officer
Datuk Abdul Wahab Maskan, gave RM200,000; Golden Hope Plantations Berhad,
represented by Group Director for Corporate, Legal and Public Affairs Norlin
Abdul Samad, gave RM200,000; Maybank, represented by Head of Public Affairs Wan
Norhiyati Ibrahim, gave RM200,000 and Sime Darby Group's Motor Division,
represented by Director Yip Jon Khiam, also gave RM200,000.
Ahmad Sarji also handed over a PNB contribution to Utusan's Tsunami Disaster
Relief Fund, which was received by Utusan Melayu (Malaysia) Executive Chairman
Tan Sri Hashim Makarudin to help Malaysian tsunami victims.
Ambassador Rusdihardjo said a combination of earthquake and tsunami had left 80
to 100 per cent of infrastructure in Acheh province, such as hospitals, health
centres, transport and communication networks and homes, destroyed.
"Looking at the scale of destruction, it's difficult to say when the search
and rescue operations can be mounted in all affected areas," he said.
He said rescue efforts were hampered by transportation difficulties and lack of
fuel.
Rusdihardjo said that at this time international help, especially in the form of
medicines, clean water, food and clothing, were desperately needed by Indonesia
to aid survivors in Acheh.
"Now we are worried about the outbreak of diseases such as cholera, the
work of disposing corpses and the absence of clean water following the
contamination of water sources," he said.
It would take years before the situation returned to normal, he said, adding
that the Indonesian government was not able to estimate losses caused by the
tragedy as yet.
He expressed his gratitude to Malaysia's help although the country itself was
hit with 66 lives lost so far and property to the tune of millions of ringgit
destroyed.
"We are deeply touched," he said.
Rusdihardjo said Indonesia was also seeking Malaysia's cooperation to mount
search and rescue operations from its shores because of the close proximity of
the two countries.
-- BERNAMA
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