Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan
Activity on Simeulue Island in Aceh province reportedly began to return to normal Thursday, a day after a major earthquake killed four people, seriously injured dozens of others and destroyed infrastructure and homes.
Residents who fled to higher ground on Wednesday for fear of a tsunami have returned to their homes, said Medan Air Force base commander Col. Agus Dwi Putranto on Thursday, after visiting survivors on Simeuleu Island.
He said that based on aerial surveillance he conducted with members of the National Disaster Management Coordination Agency, the island did not suffer any substantial damage in the quake.
"We did not find any major damage during the surveillance, except in the northern part of West Simeuleu where many buildings such as the district administrative office and police station were damaged," he said.
Asked about casualty numbers, Agus said 26 people were seriously injured in West Simeuleu, with most still being treated in an open field, while three people died and five were injured in East Simeuleu.
He said relief aid had yet to arrive in Simeuleu. The Air Force has provided two Cassa planes to airlift aid to affected areas.
Simeuleu Social Office head Zulmufti was quoted as saying by Antara news agency in Banda Aceh that four people died in the quake, two in East Simeuleu and one each in South Teupah and Central Teupah.
Worst-hit areas include West Simeuleu, Alafan and Sialang, where schools, medical facilities and houses of worship were badly damaged.
Simeuleu state hospital was damaged in the quake, forcing doctors to treat patients in tents.
The Aceh provincial administration has continued efforts to dispatch humanitarian aid to the island.
The Aceh Social Office has reportedly sent four truck-loads of food and clothing to quake survivors.
The Medan Meteorological and Geophysics Agency (BMG) said residents in Simeuleu were still experiencing aftershocks but of moderate intensity.
"Aftershocks in Sinabang, Simeuleu regency, will likely continue due to pent up energy following the main tremor on Wednesday," said Medan BMG head Rifwar Kamin on Thursday.
He said the quake did not cause major damage and large numbers of casualties because its epicenter was located at a depth of some 34 kilometers.
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