TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Syarif Hidayat, one of the survivors of the devastating earthquake that hit Cianjur, West Java, recalled his harrowing experience first-hand escaping from the collapsing wall of his home located at Cugeneng, Cianjur, as the quake happened.

On Monday noon at 13:00 Western Indonesia Time (WIB), the 67-year-old senior citizen was tending to his two grandchildren playing in the living room of his house as his children were working in the rice fields.

The quake suddenly caused the ground he stood on to violently shake, which he followed by immediately attempting to get his grandchildren out of the house.

“At that split second we aimed at the exit of the house,” he recalled.

However, as his steps neared the main door of his house, he witnessed the wall of his house starting to tip over, which he immediately held on to that eventually let both of his grandchildren exit the house before him.

“The wall crumpled just after I held it to exit the house. I couldn’t imagine if I acted a bit slowly, I could have ended up beneath it,” said Hidayat.

In the aftermath of the destructive earthquake, Syarif said his house collapsed into rubble and eventually received assistance from many sources, including the Social Ministry in the form of tents and basic daily needs.

He built the tent beside his house, which is located further away from the main street, and was suggested by a Social Ministry employee to put his tent beside the main street which would help him easily get assistance.

He said his neighbors were not as fortunate as he is. One of his neighbors who was working on constructing a house nearby did not make it out alive. Gasol Village, where he lives, is one of the areas in Cianjur Regency severely affected by the earthquake.

Based on Tempo's observation in the field, piles of collapsed houses can be seen as far as the eye can see. As of Tuesday afternoon, seven people who died had been evacuated and buried in the area.

MIRZA BAGASKARA

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