A search-and-rescue team from Baptist World Aid and Hungarian Baptist Aid is trying to find survivors on the Indonesian island of Nias after a March 28 earthquake measuring 8.7 on the Richter scale.
According to reports, the quake killed hundreds of people in Indonesia, already devastated by a Dec. 26 earthquake and tsunamis. Hundreds of houses have collapsed, including the home of one Indonesian Baptist relief worker, which killed his niece and injured other family members.
According to Paul Montacute of Baptist World Aid, one of the hardest-hit areas was Aceh province, which also received the most damage Dec. 26.
On the island of Nias, near the epicenter of the most recent quake, about 500 people were killed and about 600 homes were destroyed. Hundreds of people are believed buried under rubble, and many others were injured, Montacute reported. Thousands of people fled to higher ground for safety in case of a tsunami.
Indonesian authorities invited the Baptist search-and-rescue team to help look for those buried under the ruins on the island of Nias. The team consists of 14 specialists, including three medical doctors and two rescue dogs. The team previously worked in Turkey, India and Iran after earthquakes there and in Indonesia and Sri Lanka after the tsunami.
BWAid is continuing to fund both emergency and long term projects in the tsunami affected areas. In early May national Baptist leaders and relief workers will meet in Bangkok to initiate long-term projects to assist in the rehabilitation of those affected.
Associated Baptist Press