THE earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale that rocked Bengkulu, Mentawai, Padang, Solok, and Jambi two weeks ago, has left much suffering in its wake. As of Thursday last week aftershocks measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale were still taking place. As a consequence of the aftershocks, on Thursday last week, a tsunami destroyed several homes on the beaches of Parupuk Tabing in Padang, West Sumatra.

In Bengkulu, the area hardest hit by the