Villagers look at a damaged house after an earthquake in Pangalengan, West Java, September 3, 2009.
Yoyok Tarwia, a 40-year-old furniture vendor in Indonesian capital Jakarta, was heartbroken when he found his son died, his wife injured and their house collapsed when a powerful earthquake hit his hometown in Tasikmalaya Regency of Indonesia.
The quake, measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale, rocked West Java on Wednesday, causing panic and deep sorrow among the people in the stricken areas.
Yoyok’s six-year-old son is one of the victims in the disaster. The death toll, which has been on a rise, has hit 44, according to the latest tally.
"He and his mother were hit by a collapsing wall while they were trying to get out of the house. But he failed to escape," said the father.
Yoyok said he chatted with his boy on telephone an hour before the accident.
"He was not much of a talker. But that day he was more talkative. He wanted me to buy him shoes for Islamic festivity of Lebaran. I got home only to find my kid breathless ..." the father said, with tears welling up in his eyes.
Yoyok’s house and his neighbor’s were leveled to the ground. They were among the worst affected families in Sukasetia village of Cisayong sub-district in Tasikmalaya regency.
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