03-28-2005, 12:01 PM
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#13 (permalink)
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Frontal Lobe
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This is a little sensationalistic but it gives an idea of the scene there.
Quote:
Panic Sweeps Indonesia After Earthquake
By MICHAEL CASEY
Associated Press Writer
March 28, 2005, 2:32 PM EST
BANDA ACEH, Indonesia -- Women ran into the darkened streets, crying and praying. Some held onto a fence to steady themselves, chanting "Allah Akbar," or "God is Great." Other people grabbed small bags of clothes and fled their tents and homes for higher ground.
The shaking and swaying was gentle but lasted a full two minutes -- far longer than most of the frequent aftershocks that have rocked Aceh province since the Dec. 26 earthquake and tsunami.
Then, there was little warning of the tsunami which followed the quake. This time, people were taking no chances of a repeat.
"People are still traumatized, still scared, they are running for higher ground," said Feri, a 24-year-old recovery volunteer who goes by one name.
Others, however, were fatalistic.
In Uleelhe, one of the low-lying Banda Aceh neighborhoods worst hit by the Dec. 26 disaster, a man rushed to the local mosque.
"Where can I go, you can't outrun a tsunami," said the man, who would not give his name.
There was no sign of fresh damage.
The quake, which struck at 11:09 p.m. Monday as many people were sleeping, knocked out electricity. The only light came from camp fires around this city of refugees from last year's earthquake and tsunami.
People ran out into the streets, wearing prayer shawls, a sarong, sleeping garments.
Quickly, the city's main roads became clogged with traffic -- motorbikes, pickup trucks loaded down with entire families.
One police vehicle was seen driving around and telling people not to panic, but there was nobody telling people where to go. Most police officers stood around, seemingly not knowing what to do.
At the biggest refugee camp in Banda Aceh, people milled around the streets near the local television network, known as TVRI. Others huddled around television sets in cafes trying to watch for news of the quake.
After some time, a voice on the camp intercom announced that people could return to their tents. There was tsunami, the voice said.
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Copyright © 2005, The Associated Press
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