Billions of Rupiah Needed to Repair Nabire Airport

February 17, 2004

Billions of Rupiah Needed to Repair Nabire Airport 
Jakarta Post, Indonesia

The aftermath of the tectonic earthquake in Nabire has
left Nabire airport here practically crippled.

Around Rp 9.5 billion (US$1.12 million) in funds in
needed to rebuild the airport. 

"Based on a calculation by the Ministry of
Communications, Rp 9.5 billion is needed to restore
the airport due to the severe quake damage," Soleman
Wario, the head of the Papua province's communications
office, told reporters in Jayapura, the capital of
Papua. 

The most severe damage seen were cracks, 10
centimeters to 30 cm wide, along the whole surface of
the runway. The control tower and terminal building
were also severely damaged. 

Since the quake on Feb. 6 measuring 6.9 on the Richter
scale, the airport with its 1,400-meter runway, could
only be used by small aircraft like the Twin Otter,
Cessna and Cassa that could land on a 600-meter long
runway. 

Before the quake, the airport could take bigger
aircraft such as the Fokker 27. 

Funding for the repairs would come from the 2004 state
budget, said Soleman. 

The Samabusa seaport in Nabire was also damaged, but,
the damage was less serious than in the airport, as it
could still bring passenger ships to berth, said
Soleman. 

Separately, an official from the Papua Natural
Disaster Coordinating unit, Salahuddin, told The
Jakarta Post that material damage due to the quake was
still being accounted for, as for the moment the focus
was on health services for stricken victims. 

Residents suffering from post-quake illnesses,
according to Soleman, amounted to 1,384, 78 of whom
were treated at Nabire Hospital. The death toll from
the quake is 37, another 55 were severely injured and
556 others suffered light injuries. 

A 60-member medical team from the Ministry of Health
working with the Army and Navy are treating victims
infected by malaria, diarrhea and respiratory
infections. 

"They have built field hospitals and are treating
victims suffering from post-quake diseases," he said. 

Residents are still living in tents. 

"Residents are still reluctant to return home as they
are still afraid of aftershocks. Besides, the
government has not advised them yet to return to their
homes," Salahuddin said. 

The aftershocks are forecast to cease on Feb. 18,
according to the Geophysics and Meteorology Agency. 


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