We have worked in cooperation with the local administration to build emergency schools."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The government has constructed tents that will function as emergency schools for children affected by the earthquake in Pidie Jaya district, Aceh, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said.

"We have prepared tents for children to study in some areas," Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman of BNPB, said here on Friday.

Earlier on the day, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) asked children who survived the earthquake to continue their learning activities without fear.

The BNPB is coordinating with the Ministry of Education and Culture to rebuild damaged schools.

At least 19 elementary schools, 11 junior high schools, and one senior high school in the region were damaged by the quake, the ministrys Director General of Elementary and High Schools Hamid Muhammad said.

"We have worked in cooperation with the local administration to build emergency schools," he added.

A 6.5-magnitude earthquake hit the Pidie Jaya district in Aceh at 5.03 am on Wednesday, killing 103 people and wounding 589.

A joint search and rescue team continues to evacuate victims trapped under the debris of collapsed buildings. The team is using life locators, life detectors, search cameras and Pal CSSRs to locate victims.

The search efforts are concentrated in five locations in Pidie Jaya district, namely, Leung Putu, Mereudu, Uleeglee, Trenggading, and Darul Ulu.

The work of the 484-member rescue team is being coordinated by the National Search and Rescue Agency (Bazarnas).

(Reported by Indriani/Uu.S022/INE/KR-BSR/A014)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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