Three More Bodies Found After Strong Papua Quake

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Three more victims' bodies found in northern Papuan island of Yapen after last week's earthquakes in the region, officials reported on Monday (21/6) putting official death toll in the region to six today. All bodies were recovered from below the ground in Serui the seat of the Yapen Waropen Regency. One body was found on Saturday and the other two a mother and her baby were found on Sunday night.

Earthquake Emergency Response Unit chief, Aleks Kiriweno, who is also the Third Assistant to the Regional Secretary of Yapen Waropen Regency said today “The victims were part of a group of 12 people who were traveling in car when quake struck on Thursday last week who then reported missing.

Rescuers according to Aleks is also seeking three underground water tunnel workers, who were fixing the a tunnel section around the site where the last three victims were found over the weekend, and suspected that there were over o dozen other still buried in the ground.

While head of local head Social Affairs and Employment office in Yapen Waropen Regency, Yobert Huwai, said “We are still looking 13 more bodies buried in the ground.”

Complete report on the extent of damages in the island about 30 kilometers north of the closest coast line of the main island of Papua, and about 470 kilometers west of Jayapura, had not been made. TJAHJONO EP

Source: www.tempointeractive.com

Posted in: Earthquake,English