In Meulaboh, Indonesians find remnants of their previous lives

Published: 2005-01-24

MEULABOH, Indonesia (CNS) -- In the rubble of his seaside village along Aceh province's West Coast, Sofyan Umar cleaned off the identity card of a female neighbor. It was his first time back since a series of giant waves swept through Meulaboh, crushing everything in their path. The identity card was the only tangible reminder Umar could find that this once bustling village of fishermen and merchants once contained life. The neighbor was killed by the Dec. 26 tsunamis, said Umar, 47. He said he would return the identity card to the woman's surviving family members once he finds them. As he stood on the concrete slab that was the foundation of his house in January, Umar met with a small group of villagers, some of whom were returning for the first time, others who make a daily pilgrimage in search of their loved ones. An escalating Indonesian death toll reached 160,000 by Jan. 22, officials said, but church workers said they believe the number will exceed 200,000 as the sea slowly surrenders its dead.

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