Java quake: Fear for artistic heritage as death toll exceeds 5,000
Around 200,000 displaced people spent their second night outdoors. Aid is on the way; the commitment of Caritas Internationalis. "Extensive" damage has been reported to the Hindu temple of Prambanan, the largest in the country.
Yogyakarta (AsiaNews) The official death toll of the earthquake that shook the Indonesian island of Java on 27 May has climbed to 5,200. The worst hit zone is the special region of Yogyakarta and Bantul, with 4,611 dead. According to official sources, more than 35,000 houses and buildings have been destroyed. The quake that measured 6.2 on the Richter scale caused "extensive" damage to ancient Hindu temples in Prambanan, a world heritage site situated in Klaten regency.
Rain poured down on the displaced people all night; only a few could sleep in a tent. Most people have lost their homes or not do want to return for fear of new tremors. The exact number of people left homeless is not known, but aid agencies put the figure at around 200,000.
There is widespread concern about the area's historical heritage, ranking among the popular tourist zones in Indonesia. While the famous Buddhist temple of Borobudur in Magelang remained intact, today, Condro Yono, official from Yogyakarta's tourism office, said the Hindu temple of Prambaran had suffered "extensive" damage. The religious building, dating back to 800BC, is the largest Hindu temple in the country, and also listed as part of the heritage of mankind by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).
Known as the temple of Loro Jonggrang, the religious complex is divided into three: one dedicated to Shiva, one to Vishnu and the other to Brahma. The last suffered the worst damage. The site had been closed to the public for restoration.
Meanwhile, rescue teams continue to reach the hardest hit area, south of Yogyakarta, from across the country and even from abroad. The city of Bantul has become the centre of operations: here, agencies and the Indonesian army is coordinating aid distribution.
Unicef, World Food Programme, World Health Organization and the International Red Cross are already at work. Today, UN agencies will meet in Geneva to draw up an intervention plan.
Caritas Internationalis personnel are also alongside the victims in Yogyakarta. Duncan McLaren, secretary-general of the Catholic humanitarian agency, said: "Seven Catholic hospitals in the province have opened their doors and are getting ready to help as much as possible." Nurses and doctors of other hospitals are visiting stricken villages to tend to the wounded.
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