In Central Aceh the death toll reached 31 and six people are still missing."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has recorded the number of evacuees from the magnitude 6.2 earthquake in Aceh province at 52,113 sheltered in 70 evacuation posts.

"The evacuees consist of 5,034 in Bener Meriah district and 32,129 in Central Aceh district," BNPB spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said in a short message text in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Sutopo said that emergency handling response is still in place seven days after the quake rocked the two districts on July 2.

According to Sutopo, Aceh Governor Zaini Abdullah had put the districts under emergency response status from July 3 to 17, and it could be extended according to the need in the field.

Sutopo said a coordination meeting led by Aceh Vice Governor Muzakir Manaf confirmed that the number of casualties in Bener Meriah was only eight instead of nine as reported previously. This happened because one casualty was recorded twice in Central Aceh, which brought the death toll to 39.

"The victim turned out to be a Central Aceh resident who happened to be in Bener Meriah when the quake struck. In Central Aceh the death toll reached 31 and six people are still missing," said Sutopo.

A total of 16,019 houses were damaged, consisting of 6,178 heavily, 3,061 moderately and 6,780 lightly.

Sutopo said at a cabinet meeting led by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Monday (July 8), the government agreed to accelerate the rehabilitation and reconstruction, particularly in the housing sector.

"The quake also caused damage to 626 units of public facilities consisting of 50 public health centers and other health-care buildings, 148 mosques, 313 school buildings, 21 meunasahs (local council halls), 77 government office buildings and 17 units of doctor or paramedical service office home," said Sutopo.

He said the distribution of tents, blankets, diet, clean water and medical services for the evacuees has been done with the help of other personnel, including 1,003 Indonesian Army personnel, 676 Police personnel and hundreds of volunteers.
(Uu.A050/S012)

Reporter: Sella Panduarsa Gareta
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2013