ID :
37574
Fri, 12/26/2008 - 22:10
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/37574
The shortlink copeid
THOUSANDS PARTICIPATE IN GORONTALO TSUNAMI DRILL
Gorontalo, Dec 26 (ANTARA) - At least 5,000 people in Gorontalo city, Gorontalo province, participated in a tsunami simulation drill here on Friday morning.
The people gathered at a square in Gorontalo and then fled to the tsunami drill secretariat at a higher ground following an announcement informing that an eight magnitude earthquake occurred.
On hearing a tsunami warning siren, a number of people admitted that they ran in panic, although they have known in advance that the activity was only a simulation.
"We have been told earlier that there would be a tsunami simulation drill but when I heard the sound of siren, I saw the people running in panic to the higher ground and I got scared and ran away, too," said Rahma, a resident of Leato coastal area.
Rahma said she and her family followed the throng and fled to the higher ground.
Meanwhile, a number of tsunami drill officials were seen busily instructing the local people to stay calm because the activity was only a simulation.
They said the simulation was intended to give information to the people in tsunami-prone areas about the ways how to save themselves if a tsunami really occurred.
Although it was a simulation, at least five students participating in the drill collapsed when they pushed and jostled in the crowd.
The five students were then evacuated to a tent prepared by the committee.
"I collapsed after I felt I could not stand running any faster," said Ain, a student from state senior high school-1 (SMPN-1) in Gorontalo city.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was originally scheduled to attend the tsunami simulation drill in Gorontalo, but the head of state could not do so because of his tight schedule.
Similar activity was also planned to be carried out in Manado, North Sulawesi, on Friday, but it was adjourned to Saturday because Friday was the second day of Christmas.
The people gathered at a square in Gorontalo and then fled to the tsunami drill secretariat at a higher ground following an announcement informing that an eight magnitude earthquake occurred.
On hearing a tsunami warning siren, a number of people admitted that they ran in panic, although they have known in advance that the activity was only a simulation.
"We have been told earlier that there would be a tsunami simulation drill but when I heard the sound of siren, I saw the people running in panic to the higher ground and I got scared and ran away, too," said Rahma, a resident of Leato coastal area.
Rahma said she and her family followed the throng and fled to the higher ground.
Meanwhile, a number of tsunami drill officials were seen busily instructing the local people to stay calm because the activity was only a simulation.
They said the simulation was intended to give information to the people in tsunami-prone areas about the ways how to save themselves if a tsunami really occurred.
Although it was a simulation, at least five students participating in the drill collapsed when they pushed and jostled in the crowd.
The five students were then evacuated to a tent prepared by the committee.
"I collapsed after I felt I could not stand running any faster," said Ain, a student from state senior high school-1 (SMPN-1) in Gorontalo city.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was originally scheduled to attend the tsunami simulation drill in Gorontalo, but the head of state could not do so because of his tight schedule.
Similar activity was also planned to be carried out in Manado, North Sulawesi, on Friday, but it was adjourned to Saturday because Friday was the second day of Christmas.
