Indonesian President: Evacuation of People Affected by Sumatra Quake Almost Over

The evacuation of Indonesia residents who have been affected by the 6.5-magnitude earthquake that occurred on Sumatra earlier this week is almost complete, the country’s president Joko Widodo has announced.

BALI (Sputnik) – According to The Jakarta Post, Widodo said that medical treatment for the victims "is provided quickly and well," adding that on Saturday, aid distribution will be examined "particularly the aid aimed at reconstruction."

Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) reported that over 500 structures were destroyed by the Wednesday earthquake, including 18 mosques, three schools, two factories and a hospital.

Over 100 people were killed as a result of the earthquake and over 700 were injured. Thousands of people are currently sheltered at temporary rescue centers.

Indonesia is located in the so-called Ring of Fire quake zone where a large number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur. Hundreds of thousands died in 2004 when a record quake hit the Aceh region, triggering a tsunami.

The Wednesday earthquake also hit the Aceh region. President Widodo visited the Zainal Abidin General Hospital in Banda Aceh, the capital of the Aceh province, on Thursday.