Date:
28/05/2006
A letter to the victims of Java earthquake
Condolences to the families of the injured and the dead
More than 3,000 people have died yesterday because of the earthquake that hit Java island in Indonesia. This is the worst catastrophe that Indonesia has faced since the tsunami on December 26, 2004, that had caused the death of 168,000 people on Sumatra.
At dawn yesterday, people were surprised by the earthquake and the subsequent activity on of the Merabi volcano. 200,000 people were forced to leave their homes. The number of victims is expected to increase, since there are still many bodies buried underneath the rubble.
Indonesia witnesses many earthquakes and volcanic eruptions because it is located in the geological region called "Ring of Fire". According to the media, no less than 370,000 houses were destroyed in Bantul district, south of Yogyakarta. The earthquake has also caused the disconnection of power and telephone lines and the cancellation of all flights from and to the local airport.
The LCHR expresses its deepest condolences to the families of the victims and calls on all international organizations to provide immediate relief by sending doctors, nurses, medication and food supplies.