Five Warships Assist Aceh Quake Impact

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - The Indonesian Navy has prepared five warships to bring aid to victims of Wednesday's magnitude 8.5 earthquake which jolted Banda Aceh and other provinces on Sumatra island, according to a Navy spokesman.

"Following the approval of Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Soeparno, the Indonesian Navy has prepared five warships to assist following the impact of Wednesday's earthquake," deputy Navy Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Marsetio said at Naval Cilangkap Headquarters in East Jakarta on Thursday.

He said the five warships, including the KRI Banda Aceh-593, KRI dr. Suharso-990, KRI Yos Sudarso-353, KRI Sultan Thaha Syaifuddin-376, and KRI Patiunus-384, had been prepared to transport logistics, medicine, and other humanitarian aid to the victims of the quake-hit areas.

Meanwhile, Bukit Barisan Military Commander Maj Gen Lodewijk F Paulus said the powerful earthquake that jolted Aceh province on Wednesday did not cause material damage or casualties.

Aceh province was rocked by 20 earthquakes on Wednesday, including two powerful ones measuring 8.5 and 8.1 on the Richter Scale.(IGT)