A man retrieves fans from a collapsed shop following a strong earthquake in Meureudu, Pidie Jaya, Aceh province, Indonesia.Reuters
A powerful undersea earthquake of 6.5 magnitude rocked Indonesia's Aceh province on Wednesday, killing hundreds of people and leaving thousands homeless. On Friday, the Indonesian officials said the search and rescue operations were nearing an end after a three-day long process.
"We believe we have found 99 percent of the victims," Sutopo Nugroho, spokesman of the national disaster management agency told Reuters.
However, Khairul Nova, an official at the Aceh search and rescue agency said dozens of residents still remain missing in the rubble of collapsed and damaged buildings. The search and rescue teams used earth movers to reach out to the victims, who were trapped under the debris.
Relief workers were seen handing out food, water and blankets to the rescued residents. President Joko Widodo visited the earthquake survivors, including people who were getting treated for broken bones in hospitals and tent clinics.
Aceh, which is located on the northern tip of Sumatra island, declared a two-week state of emergency due to the destruction created by the strong quake. The central government has also pledged aid for recovery efforts.
Since the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, this latest quake was the worst disaster to hit the region resulting into a massive catastrophe. In 2004, the tsunami killed almost 226,000 people along Indian Ocean shorelines.
People walk near a collapsed mosque following an earthquake in Meuredu, Pidie Jaya in the northern province of Aceh, Indonesia.Reuters
People survey the damage after dozens of buildings collapsed following a 6.4 magnitude earthquake in Ule Glee, Pidie Jaya in the northern province of Aceh, Indonesia.Reuters
Indonesian rescue workers carry a survivor from a fallen building after an earthquake in Trienggadeng, Pidie Jaya, in the northern province of Aceh, Indonesia.Reuters
Rescue workers try to remove a victim from a collapsed building following an earthquake in Lueng Putu, Pidie Jaya in the northern province of Aceh, Indonesia.Reuters
Indonesian rescue workers carry a survivor from a fallen building after an earthquake in Ulee Glee, Pidie Jaya, in the northern province of Aceh, Indonesia.Reuters
People walk near a collapsed mosque following an earthquake in Meuredu, Pidie Jaya in the northern province of Aceh, Indonesia.Reuters
A man retrieves goods from a collapsed shop following a strong earthquake in Meureudu, Pidie Jaya, Aceh province, Indonesia.Reuters
Rescue teams use heavy equipment to dig through a collapsed building following a strong earthquake in Meureudu market, Pidie Jaya, Aceh province, Indonesia.Reuters
Rescue workers and police remove a victim from a collapsed building following an earthquake in Lueng Putu, Pidie Jaya in the northern province of Aceh, Indonesia.Reuters
Injured people receive medical attention at a hospital following an earthquake in Sigli, Pidie regency, in the northern province of Aceh, Indonesia.Reuters
A patient is treated in the outdoor walkway, for saftey reasons, at a hospital after a strong earthquake in Meureudu, Pidie Jaya, Aceh province, Indonesia.Reuters
Residents prepare to spend the night in a makeshift shelter at a school following a strong earthquake in Meureudu, Pidie Jaya, Aceh province, IndonesiaReuters
A woman stands near a collapsed building following this week's strong earthquake in Meureudu, Pidie Jaya, Aceh province, IndonesiaReuters
An injured man arrives at a hospital following an earthquake in Sigli, Pidie regency, in the northern province of Aceh, Indonesia.Reuters
