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Praying amid the earthquake rubble |
The world's most populous Muslim nation, Indonesia, marked the start of the holy month Ramadan in fear and sadness as a series of earthquakes rumbled through the region.
In some quake-hit areas, the worst being the Bengkulu district, people have been unable to attend regular evening prayers. "The imam had prepared for it but we cannot go to prayers as the mosque is damaged," resident Slamet Purwanto told the Detikcom online news agency.
Hundreds of kilometres away from the epicentre in Medan, Indonesia's third-largest city in North Sumatra, blackouts forced many to pray by candlelight, kerosene lamps and light bulbs rigged to car batteries.
Since the 8.4-magnitude quake on Wednesday, there have been aftershocks and smaller earthquakes, each prompting tsunami warnings that withdrawn as quickly as they are issued. Since the 2004 earthquake and tsunami at the tip of Sumatra, that killed some 168,000 Indonesians, fears loom large of another killer wave.
Nine-year-old Sandra has just not been the same since a massive earthquake struck the city of Padang. "The girl has a lot of stress," said Sandra's mother, Ida Sari who has taken to the hills on the edge of Padang together with several others. "We're afraid of a tsunami," said Ina Sutrisno, 36, who is part of a group of 15 people,sitting on mats on the hill. Some are dressed for work, evidence of the fears that lurk. "My mum is from Aceh," Ina said, referring to an older woman sitting nearby. Ina's mother had fled to safety during the Aceh tsunami and still suffers from the trauma.
Remembering the Ramadan, Ina said that perhaps God was trying to bring people closer to Him. "We see it as a test," said her husband.
In the meantime, the hills right along the mountainous Sumatra's coast are slowly filling with frightened villagers. -AFP/sf
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