Tana Toraja, S Sulawesi, Dec. 10 (ANTARA) - A landslide hit a traditional cemetery complex and carried some 150 dead bodies 300 meters away at Sikuku village, Kepala Pitu Sub district, Tana Toraja District, South Sulawesi, last Sunday (Dec 7).
So far, around 50 dead bodies of the total of 150, were evacuated and placed in a nearby location, while waiting for the evacuations of the remaining bodies.
The remnants would be reburied in a new cemetery complex which had to be decided yet.
"According to local traditions, dead bodies could not be returned to their families' homes, and it should be a pig-slaughter ritual before they are reburied," Yansto, a local resident of Tana Toraja, said here on Wednesday.
The evacuation process was hampered by difficult conditions of the nature which is very steep and full of rocks as well as woods.
The land transportation to the area was also totally cut off as the landslide caused a 20-meter-long damage at a local road.
Inhabitants of Rinding Allo, Sesean Soloara, and Baruppu sub districts were isolated from Rantepao, the capital of Tana Toraja, because of the landslide.
The landslide also destroyed a Protestant Church at the village.
In Tana Toraja, dead bodies are usually buried by putting them inside caves, either natural or man-made, in high cliffs or large rocks.
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(T.SYS/B/F001/B/S012) 10-12-2008 21:32:41
So far, around 50 dead bodies of the total of 150, were evacuated and placed in a nearby location, while waiting for the evacuations of the remaining bodies.
The remnants would be reburied in a new cemetery complex which had to be decided yet.
"According to local traditions, dead bodies could not be returned to their families' homes, and it should be a pig-slaughter ritual before they are reburied," Yansto, a local resident of Tana Toraja, said here on Wednesday.
The evacuation process was hampered by difficult conditions of the nature which is very steep and full of rocks as well as woods.
The land transportation to the area was also totally cut off as the landslide caused a 20-meter-long damage at a local road.
Inhabitants of Rinding Allo, Sesean Soloara, and Baruppu sub districts were isolated from Rantepao, the capital of Tana Toraja, because of the landslide.
The landslide also destroyed a Protestant Church at the village.
In Tana Toraja, dead bodies are usually buried by putting them inside caves, either natural or man-made, in high cliffs or large rocks.
***7***
(F001/A/HAJM/B/S012)
21:10/.... )
(T.SYS/B/F001/B/S012) 10-12-2008 21:32:41