The Russian Government
Rescuers, dog specialists and doctors of the “Centrospas” unit EMERCOM of Russia continue to work in Sumatra, which suffered from a disastrous earthquake.
The search-and-rescue works in the area of the disastrous earthquake in Indonesia are going on the 6th day. Gradually, the aims of the operations are changing: the rescue period is coming to an end, the main priority becomes the medical aid and life support of the population.
As only the Russian rescuers possess the necessary equipment and the helicopter-borne hospital to continue the rescue operation in the emergency area it was decided that the Russians will continue the work in Sumatra.
The rescue units of other countries will gradually leave the island.
“The suffered population in the first place need the helicopter-borne hospital and medicine, which the EMERCOM of Russia has enough, that is why the Russian team is staying in Sumatra, it is too early to speak about the final dates of the operation,” he said.
The rescue work in Padang, where several hundreds of buildings were destroyed, has been more difficult due to the heavy rain, which started in Western Sumatra yesterday and continued on Monday.
However, heavy rain is not the only problem for the population in Padang. With the help of several countries they have managed to escape the humanitarian catastrophe. But the electricity is often cut off, there are problems with water supply.
Many people are scared to live in their half-destroyed houses, therefore, tents are put up for them near their homes. There are several hundreds of such tents around the city.
The earthquake with the 7.9 magnitude had occurred at the shore of Indonesian Sumatra Island on 30 September. According to local authorities, the number of victims can reach 3 thousand people.
