26 Jun 2010

Seriously injured in West Papuan quake all receiving treatment

9:57 am on 26 June 2010

The head of Indonesia's Red Cross delegation says most people who suffered major injury in big earthquakes on the West Papuan island of Yapen last week are receiving good medical treatment.

Bob McKerrow says 22 people have died and about 2,700 families in eight sub districts or about a third of the families on the island have been affected by the quakes.

He says those with moderate injuries are being treated at home but about 150 people were seriously injured.

"We've got reports that most of the seriously injured have got good treatment, people have been med-evacuated by helicopter to hospital so they're getting good treatment which is good."

Bob McKerrow says the Red Cross is working to restore electricity and sanitation but the rebuilding of thousands of destroyed homes has to wait until the arrival of boats from Jakarta.