1,254 Residents Evacuate After Dieng Quake

Batang, C Java (Antara) - Some 1,254 residents of Bawang and Blado sub-districts, Batang district, Central Java, still evacuated on Saturday after a 4.8-magnitude earthquake hit Dieng plateau on Friday night. Head of the Batang district office for national unity, politics and public protection (Kesbangpolinmas) Agung Wisnu Barata said the quake forced 1,254 residents to flee their homes and caused one house to collapse. "As many as 897 residents of Praten village, Bawang sub-district, are taking shelter at the sub-district office, while 357 residents of Gerlang village, Blado sub-district, are camping out in a soccer field for fear of aftershocks," he said. He said the Batang district government had provided the evacuees with rice, instant noodles, and other basic necessaries. "We hope there won't be aftershocks so they could resume their daily activities," he said. Some of the evacuees were also given shelter at the Bawang village meeting hall. "Because of the quake a resident has sustained bone fracture after falling into the ground while trying to evacuate. A number of officers of the Bawang public health service post are standing by at the offices of Candi Gugur and Bawang village heads," said Daryati, the post's midwife. (*)