SOS Children's Villages safe after Indonesian earthquake
27/05/2006
An earthquake measuring more than 6.2 on the Richter scale hit the area of Yogyakarta last night. News of the earthquake is still arriving slowly.
The Children's Village in Semarang and other projects in Yogyakarta, especially the SOS Youth programmes, are all safe and no loss of human life or property has been reported at the Children's Village.
The early morning news reported a death total of 15 people. At 2.00am, more than 220 people had been reported dead with many more buried under the debris. At 11.22 am, the BBC reported at least 2500 dead and thousands injured.
A team of SOS staff has been sent to the affected area to assess the situation and see what kind of help can be offered. Gregor Hadiyanto Nitihardjo, National Director of SOS Children’s Villages Indonesia, reported via phone that the disaster is far worse than was expected, and news is being reported slowly by the media.
Although the SOS Children's Villages themselves appear to have escaped unharmed, Mr. Nigihardjo did report that many of the local SOS mothers come from Yogyakarta and their families seem to have suffered deaths and property damage.
Continuing support for earthquake victims
SOS Children's relief efforts in Indonesia continue - further information can be found here.
Relevant Countries: Indonesia.