ID :
82753
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 17:28
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/82753
The shortlink copeid
MALAYSIAN STUDENTS TRAUMATISED BY HARROWING EXPERIENCE
SUBANG, Oct 2 (Bernama) -- While Malaysian students returning from Padang
heaved a sigh of relief upon arrival at the Royal Malaysian Air Force base here
Friday, most were still traumatised by the frightening earthquake which hit West
Sumatra, two days ago.
For medical students Milfasari Muzammil and Shangeeta Krishnan, tremors were
a daily occurence and they brushed them off as a norm in the region -- until the
earthquake left a trail of deaths.
The second-year students of the Universitas Andalas Faculty of Medicine said
they were left in a state of shock and horror by the aftermath of the disaster.
Speaking to Bernama, Milfasari, 19, said he was at the faculty with friends
when the earthquake occured.
"After it happened, we lost a sense of direction for several hours as it was
pitch dark due to disrupted electricity and communication.
"We had to walk five kilometres to a hilly area for shelter," he said,
looking pale and exhausted.
On her part, Shangeeta was attending a lecture when the disaster struck.
"I never expected that in less than three months that we were in Padang,
something terrible like this would happen. I am grateful that my friends and I
are safe.
"After the quake, I saw them (friends) squatting and bowing down which we
were taught to do whenever we experienced small earthquakes almost daily," said
the 19-year-old who was eager to meet her family.
Shangeeta said they ran to an open space to ask for help while watching
the collapse of buildings surrounding the university.
A fourth-year student at the same university, Suresh Sandubaboo Rao, said
the earthquake was the worst incident he had ever experienced.
"I was unaware an earthquake was happening as I was opening the door to my
house...many times, I tried but it seemed like my keys were faulty. It was when
my keys fell to the ground that I realised it was a big earthquake and I felt
dizzy," he said.
Because of the incident, he said, 50 per cent of the university buildings
were damaged and could take a long time to repair.
"We were all given emergency leave by the university and will only resume
studies when the situation is deemed safe," said Rao.
For Shangeetha Nagarajan, 18, she still felt traumatised and scared by what
had happened.
She said she was in a classroom listening to a briefing for new students
when she heard noises and watched the quake.
"The campus walls collapsed, houses were destroyed and some were on fire
...
it was scary," she said, adding however, that she was thankful she did not
sustain injuries in the incident.
"I panicked and did not think of running, but fortunately, our seniors
took care of us and brought us to level ground," said the student from Negeri
Sembilan.
A Syariah student at the Imam Bonjol State Islamic Institute in Padang,
Azrul Aminurasshid Mohd Ali, 23, said he was in a class during the earthquake.
"About 5.30pm (local time), there was a normal tremor but it became
stronger and we started running as the class was on the second floor.
"It was a dangerous situation as the university building was cracking," he
said.
Azrul said it traumatised him to see several friends injured and many others
killed in the quake.
"I saw a person crushed by a collapsing building...there was also a
Malaysian student whose face was cut by pieces of broken zinc," he said,
admitting that he was still in a state of shock and worried about returning to
Padang.
A fourth-year student at Universitas Andalas, Marwiza Abdul Ghani, 25, said
this incident was by far, the worst she had experienced after having gone
through about 30 earthquakes in Padang previously.
Marwiza was at home in Kampung Minahasa when in addition to a tremor, she
also heard deafening and strange noises.
"It was loud ... previously (during earthquakes) I could still run outside,
but this time, it was so strong that I could not even stand. It was difficult
for me to get out of the house and I fell near the gate," she said.
However, Marwiza was grateful to have gotten out of the house to an open
area without being hurt.
-- BERNAMA
heaved a sigh of relief upon arrival at the Royal Malaysian Air Force base here
Friday, most were still traumatised by the frightening earthquake which hit West
Sumatra, two days ago.
For medical students Milfasari Muzammil and Shangeeta Krishnan, tremors were
a daily occurence and they brushed them off as a norm in the region -- until the
earthquake left a trail of deaths.
The second-year students of the Universitas Andalas Faculty of Medicine said
they were left in a state of shock and horror by the aftermath of the disaster.
Speaking to Bernama, Milfasari, 19, said he was at the faculty with friends
when the earthquake occured.
"After it happened, we lost a sense of direction for several hours as it was
pitch dark due to disrupted electricity and communication.
"We had to walk five kilometres to a hilly area for shelter," he said,
looking pale and exhausted.
On her part, Shangeeta was attending a lecture when the disaster struck.
"I never expected that in less than three months that we were in Padang,
something terrible like this would happen. I am grateful that my friends and I
are safe.
"After the quake, I saw them (friends) squatting and bowing down which we
were taught to do whenever we experienced small earthquakes almost daily," said
the 19-year-old who was eager to meet her family.
Shangeeta said they ran to an open space to ask for help while watching
the collapse of buildings surrounding the university.
A fourth-year student at the same university, Suresh Sandubaboo Rao, said
the earthquake was the worst incident he had ever experienced.
"I was unaware an earthquake was happening as I was opening the door to my
house...many times, I tried but it seemed like my keys were faulty. It was when
my keys fell to the ground that I realised it was a big earthquake and I felt
dizzy," he said.
Because of the incident, he said, 50 per cent of the university buildings
were damaged and could take a long time to repair.
"We were all given emergency leave by the university and will only resume
studies when the situation is deemed safe," said Rao.
For Shangeetha Nagarajan, 18, she still felt traumatised and scared by what
had happened.
She said she was in a classroom listening to a briefing for new students
when she heard noises and watched the quake.
"The campus walls collapsed, houses were destroyed and some were on fire
...
it was scary," she said, adding however, that she was thankful she did not
sustain injuries in the incident.
"I panicked and did not think of running, but fortunately, our seniors
took care of us and brought us to level ground," said the student from Negeri
Sembilan.
A Syariah student at the Imam Bonjol State Islamic Institute in Padang,
Azrul Aminurasshid Mohd Ali, 23, said he was in a class during the earthquake.
"About 5.30pm (local time), there was a normal tremor but it became
stronger and we started running as the class was on the second floor.
"It was a dangerous situation as the university building was cracking," he
said.
Azrul said it traumatised him to see several friends injured and many others
killed in the quake.
"I saw a person crushed by a collapsing building...there was also a
Malaysian student whose face was cut by pieces of broken zinc," he said,
admitting that he was still in a state of shock and worried about returning to
Padang.
A fourth-year student at Universitas Andalas, Marwiza Abdul Ghani, 25, said
this incident was by far, the worst she had experienced after having gone
through about 30 earthquakes in Padang previously.
Marwiza was at home in Kampung Minahasa when in addition to a tremor, she
also heard deafening and strange noises.
"It was loud ... previously (during earthquakes) I could still run outside,
but this time, it was so strong that I could not even stand. It was difficult
for me to get out of the house and I fell near the gate," she said.
However, Marwiza was grateful to have gotten out of the house to an open
area without being hurt.
-- BERNAMA
