344 Schools Damaged Due to Aceh Quake

Banda Aceh (Antara Bali) - About 344 school buildings in Bener Meriah and Aceh Tengah districts are damaged due to a 6.2 Richter scale earthquake that hit the area last Tuesday, province's Chief of Education Department Anas M Adam said here on Sunday.

Of the 344 damaged buildings, 148 units among them are kindergarten buildings, 143 elementary school buildings, 43 junior high school buildings and 20 senior high school buildings.

"Luckily there were no teaching activities during the earthquake because all schools were closed due to the holiday season. When the schools resume activities, the eaching will be temporarily conducted in tents," he added.

A 6.2 magnitude earthquake jolted Aceh province last Tuesday (July 2) at 2.37 p.m Western Indonesia Time. The epicenter of the quake was located at 4.70 degrees of Northern Latitude and 96.61 degrees of Eastern Longitude or 35 kilometers southwest of Bener Meriah District at a depth of 10 kilometers.

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) last Thursday (July July 4) evening reported that the death toll of Aceh's earthquake increased to 30 from previously reported 24.

"Among the dead victims, 12 were residents of Bener Meriah District while the other 18 were from Aceh Tengah District," according to BNPB spokesperson Sutopo Purwo Nugroho.

He added aid for quake victims is still distributed to Bener Meriah and Aceh Tengah.

Aceh Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPNA) has distributed 1,5 tons of rice, 215 packs of instant noodle, 180 kg of cooking oil, 200 blankets, 400 napkins and some kinds of staple food in a large amount to Central Aceh.

"The same assistance such as rice, instant noodle, mineral water, sardine, and sauce has been delivered to Bener Meriah," he said. (DWA)