"Normal life was interrupted after a 6.5 earthquake hit the area. However, people are resuming their normal life from today," the Deputy Mayor of Pesisir Selatan District, Rusma Yul Anwar, said here on Friday.
However, the local administration has appealed to the people to stay aware about sudden disasters, such as earthquake, tsunami and flash floods.
Anwar cautioned that people should not panic when a disaster happens and should take safety measures.
The Deputy Mayor added that panic had gripped some people when the earthquake had occurred on Thursday at 05:52 a.m., prompting them to abandon their houses and shift to higher places.
Anwar observed that after staying at higher place for several hours, people had returned to their houses.
He informed that some people who had suffered minor injuries had also returned to their houses after they were treated at the public health care center and local hospital.
"Some people were also being treated in the M Zien Painan Regional hospital as they had suffered severe injuries," Anwar stated.
According to a local resident, Asni (45), his family was still in a state of trauma due to the earthquake. His house is located near the sea shore.
Asni explained that his family had escaped from the house and had headed for a higher place as they were afraid of a tsunami striking.
"We returned to our house 30 minutes after the quake. However, my seven year old child is still experiencing trauma as he feared that aftershocks could reoccur or a tsunami could strike," Asni narrated.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
