National

Nias Regent Estimates Death Toll Around 400
Thursday, 31 March, 2005 | 18:17 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Nias:Nias Regent Binahati Baeha has estimated that the death toll from the Nias earthquake to be about 400.
However, this does not include people who are still trapped inside buildings and amongst ruins who cannot yet be evacuated.
The total who died in Gunung Sitoli, according to Binahati, was 147.
In Teluk Dalam, South Nias Regency, as many as 100 people died.
“But there are still 17 people who are trapped inside buildings. The buildings all collapsed and the people inside cannot be evacuated,” Binahati said at Nias Regency Hall on Thursday morning (31/3).
According to Binahati, there are problems evacuating victims because of insufficient equipment.
This estimate from the Regent is different to information received from the Yakkum Emergency Unit which opened an aid post in Nias.
In Nias regency itself, 171 victims have been buried in mass graves or individually.
But the Regent said so far only 147 victims had been found.

Istiqomatul Hayati