PALU, Indonesia — “Awesome Indonesia,” a young man shouted sarcastically as a crowd of people, some pushing their arms elbow deep into a jumbled pile of sodden food and debris, searched for anything edible in the shell of a warehouse that tsunami waves had pounded. They were young and old, middle class and poor, university students and sullen young men. “We came here because we heard there was food,” said Rehanna, a 23-year-old student, wearing a bright red motorcycle helmet. “I know the assistance is coming, but the distribution is very bad.”Officials say more than 1,200 people were killed in the twin tragedies that hit Palu and the surrounding district of Donggala on Sulawesi island. Furniture maker Khairul Hassan said he was working nearby when the quake hit and ran to hills behind the warehouses.

Source: National Post October 03, 2018 05:48 UTC