Press draws lessons from quake

Rescue teams say they are unlikely to find many more survivors

Papers in Indonesia are struggling to come to terms with the huge loss of life caused by Saturday's earthquake on Java.

There are firm calls for government to improve its response in times of national emergency, while one paper based in Yogyakarta, near the quake epicentre, fears another disaster if nearby Mt Merapi volcano erupts.

YOGYAKARTA'S KEDAULATAN RAKYAT

We hope that after the Yogyakarta quake on 27 May, all of us will be wise and never be lax about watching out for Mt Merapi.

JAKARTA'S KOMPAS

We accept the fact that Yogyakarta and most areas of our country are indeed prone to natural catastrophes... Undoubtedly, volcano eruptions and earthquakes will become part of our daily life... This natural reality should make us an intelligent and vigilant nation. Indonesia's nature requires us to have an active, sophisticated and capable disaster mitigation programme.

JAKARTA'S SUARA KARYA

It is apparent that the situation in the disaster zone remains horrifying, tense and traumatic... There are always numerous problems in such areas... These problems should teach us to continue improving the effectiveness of our emergency response measures.

JAKARTA'S REPUBLIKA

This country is prone to disasters... But it seems that we, particularly the government, never learn how to deal rapidly with a catastrophe. Every time a disaster takes place, the response is often extremely slow... What a shame! This shows that the government is insensitive towards the misery of disaster victims.

MP WAHYUDIN MUNAWIR IN JAKARTA'S REPUBLIKA

Mitigation efforts need to be made in order to increase society's... preparedness in the face of a natural disaster, so that the impact can be reduced... As a developing country, we perhaps need to learn from Japan about how to implement integrated mitigation plans to deal with the effects of a devastating earthquake.

JAKARTA'S MEDIA INDONESIA

Thousands of victims who need immediate medical treatment must not be seen as a local issue. Yes, the earthquake in Yogyakarta is not as devastating as the tsunami in Aceh, but only those who are narrow-minded and insensitive will conclude that the Yogyakarta earthquake is a local disaster rather than a national one.

SEMARANG'S SUARA MERDEKA

While we focused our humanitarian efforts on the threat of Mt Merapi, an earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale devastated everything... Amid the panic which caused uncertainties, we obviously need to provide clear and responsible information.

BANDUNG'S PIKIRAN RAKYAT

In dealing with the earthquake in Yogyakarta, we have yet to see the best mobilization of all of this nation's potential strengths... In the short term, the government must find a solution to the reconstruction of Yogyakarta and address the trauma of the victims. The problems arising from this disaster do not end with the earthquake.

MEDAN'S WASPADA

For the Indonesian nation, the earthquake disaster in Yogyakarta and central Java... has become a warning and a test for its people, who are also facing social and national disintegration conflicts and economic setbacks.

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