A 'terrible test' for Sulawesi resident

PALU CITY -- There seems to be a quiet calm in Patebo village. Until a week ago it was bustling with activity but all that’s left now is an almost flattened area with a blanket of mud.

Covering an area of 176 hectares, it was the main settlement for the residents of this city but that was gone in the blink of an eye after a Tsunami sealed its fate following a 7.5 magnitude earthquake.

A victim, Abdullah Qassam, 31, said what happened at Patebo was seen as a terrible test.

"The earthquake was strong and suddenly a layer of thick black mud just enveloped the entire area.

"The mud and water was five metres high and it came gushing into our homes causing severe destruction and death," he told.

According to the National Agency for Disaster Management (BNPB) Indonesia, the number of victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Central Sulawesi had risen to 1,571 people as of 6 pm yesterday.

Abdullah, who lost his wife and sister in the incident, said those who survived were shocked that the tsunami had reached the village which was away from the sea and 28km from the epicentre.

“This area has been badly affected, far worse than other areas,” he said, Bernama report.

The bodies of his wife Doona Turiman, 25, and his sister, Hendirimawati Qassam, 34, and countless other friends and relatives have not been recovered.

"With all the buildings and other structures wiped out, I am unable to know exactly where my wife and sister were.

“Most of the dead were relatives and people I knew, so I decided to join the search and rescue team to help out. I am trying to remove as many bodies as possible so that we can give them a proper burial,” he said.

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