IAF Embarks on Disaster Relief Mission to Quake-Hit Indonesia

37 medical personnel have been sent aboard an IAF C-130J, while a C-17 aircraft will transport relief material.

37 medical personnel have been sent aboard an IAF C-130J, while a C-17 aircraft will be transporting relief material.

(Photo: ANI)

The Indian Air Force embarked on a "humanitarian and disaster relief mission' to Indonesia, after the island nation was hit by a tsunami, triggered by an earthquake.

According to ANI, 37 medical personnel have been sent aboard an IAF C-130J, while a C-17 aircraft will be transporting relief material including tentage, generators and medicines.

(Photo: ANI)

(Photo: ANI)

(Photo: ANI)

Meanwhile, desperation exploded into anger four days after the disaster, with residents showing frustration at the pace of rescues, grabbing food from damaged stores and begging Indonesia's president to help them.

The confirmed toll exceeded 1,200 dead with hundreds severely injured and still more trapped in debris on Tuesday, 2 October.

"Pay attention to Donggala, Mr Jokowi. Pay attention to Donggala," yelled one resident in footage broadcast on local television, referring to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, reported AP. "There are still a lot of unattended villages here," the resident added.

Most of the attention so far has focused on the biggest affected city, Palu, home to 380,000 people with considerable damage. The toll was raised to 1,234 on Tuesday afternoon for the towns of Palu, Donggala, Sigi and Parigi Muntong with 799 people badly injured, national disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said at a news conference in Jakarta.

In Sigi and the hard-hit area of Balaroa, more people remain trapped, meaning the toll is likely to rise.

He said 153 bodies were buried Monday in a mass grave and the operation continued on Tuesday and adding the government was working to speed up aid distribution. A special aircraft carrying 12,000 liters of fuel was expected to arrive and trucks carrying food were en route with police escorts to guard against looters.

Donggala and other outlying areas have received little assistance largely due to impassable roads. The town's administration head, Kasman Lassa, said residents should take only food staples from shops.

(With inputs from ANI and AP)