Chinese seismological experts brief Bantul mayor on quake evaluation

Seismological experts of the Chinese relief team to Indonesia's quake-hit Bantul regency on Friday visited the town mayor, providing him with a detailed analysis of the May 27 earthquake and putting forward suggestions for the post-quake reconstruction.

The experts, Qu Guosheng and Zhao Fengxin, conducted survey in more than 50 spots in an area of nearly 1,000 square km in Bantul, collected a huge amount of data and finally came up with a research report illustrated with diagrams, according to Huang Jianfa, deputy head of the China International Search and Rescue team.

The mayor, Idham Samawi, said it is the first accurate and detailed quake report the local government has received since the quake struck, and Chinese scientists' efforts will help a great deal with the regency's quake relief work and post-quake reconstruction.

He also thanked China for sending the relief team composed of medical and rescue workers to the quake-hit area, which he said has given the affected people tremendous help.

According to Huang Jianfa, the China relief team's disaster evaluation work is still underway, and the Chinese scientists will continue their field research until they can finally submit a comprehensive report to the Indonesian government.

He added that such a research will also benefit China itself as it can accumulate material for the country's own earthquake- related research work.

A 5.9-magnitude earthquake jolted Indonesia's Yogyakarta and surrounding areas on May 27, killing over 5,000 people, injuring thousands of others and leaving nearly 200,000 homeless. Bantul is the hardest-hit area in the Central Java province.

Source: Xinhua