PALU: Details of the extent of the destruction wreaked by the Sulawesi earthquake are coming to light, with victims opening up about the tragedy and how it has changed their lives forever.
The death toll has now risen to more than 1,600 people but for the survivors, the horror has not ended yet.
The New Straits Times Press (NSTP) spoke to Emran Musa, 45, who recounted the tragedy which befell his family.
His wife, Nyonya Tajriani, 24, had to have her left hand amputated after it was crushed when the walls of her home caved in during the massive earthquake on Sept 26.
He said his wife was in the bathroom when their house began shaking.
“In her panic, she tried to run but slipped and fell in front of the toilet. That was when the walls and roof caved in.
“She raised her left arm to shield herself. The debris crushed her hand,” he said when met at the Undata Palu Hospital here.
The hospital has since been transformed into a field hospital for the quake victims. The hospital has been unable to cope with the sheer influx of patients, which left the authorities with no choice but to place around 100 patients outside the building.
The massive number of dead bodies also means that the mortuary is working beyond its capacity, and can no longer store any more remains.
Emran said doctors had to sever his wife’s left hand in order to save her arm. She also sustained multiple broken bones in both her legs.
“Although I’m grateful that she survived, I’m still sad that she was so badly injured. She is still trying to cope with what happened to her,” said Emran, who was by her bedside.
Meanwhile, reporters also spoke to a woman whose eight-year-old son was injured in the quake.
Wahiyu Asri, 38, was doing her best to comfort the boy, who was sobbing in pain. The boy not only snapped off his left wrist, but his right hand was also missing two fingers when the ceiling of their house in Sigi collapsed on him.
“He hasn’t stopped crying. I’ve done my best to comfort him, I’m fanning his hand but Rendy keeps crying. He’s always asking about what will happen to his left hand, which was severed,” she said.
The boy was performing his Maghbrib prayers when the tragedy struck.
“We were fortunate that he was saved in time and rushed to the hospital. But now, due to lack of beds, he’s been placed outside in the parking lot.
“It’s hot here and both adults and children are sharing the same tent,” she said.
Latest figures place the death toll at 1,649 people. Approximately 2,549 were reported as critically injured.
The large number of victims coupled with lack of hospital beds have forced the authorities to fly many patients to Makassar and Balik Papan, Kalimantan, via military aircraft.
ENDS
Keywords: Sulawesi quake, Palu, tsunami