Traumatised quake children go back to school

It was an emotional moment as Indonesian schoolchildren gathered yesterday for their first school assembly since the earthquake.Many hoping for life to return to normal traumatized pupils at SMA1 High School in Padang, Sumatra’s worst-hit area were gathering amid the ruins of their classrooms. Many of the lessons are now being taken in tents outside the rubble. It is still not known just how many pupils were victims of the earthquake. Only half the 800 students turned up yesterday as the children were told the news that one of the staff had been killed in the quake.Still suffering from the shock of the devastation, many of them are living in fear of another quake.

Several of the children had stories of narrow escapes and cheating death by seconds. One girl, Haria Fitri said she was taking a shower when suddenly the bathroom started shaking violently. She grabbed a towel and ran downstairs and jumped out of a window, just as her house collapsed behind her, she told CNN news channel. The teachers too seem stunned by what's happened. Most of the classrooms here are full of rubble and lessons are now being conducted in a tent outside, provided by Unicef.Harris Putrareza, 17, said: "When I see my school, very big destruction, I get a little sad, but I am very happy to be back to my school."Gustina, the school's English teacher, said: "They feel very sad, they can't control their emotions, what pity our school is broken."

Older pupils at the highly acclaimed school are worrying about how they will cope when it comes to their important mid-term exams next week. The headteacher has said they will be postponed, while they find a suitable room. One building is simply too dangerous to enter and may have to be torn down.The high school, built in 1917 has survived many earthquakes down the years. But this one ripped the place apart, leaving mountains of red bricks lying on the desks and huge gaping holes in the ceiling.Today, six days after a devastating earthquake, health workers were dousing Padang city with disinfectant to ward off disease outbreaks, as helicopters dropped aid to desperate survivors. Indonesia's official toll from the quake is 625 dead and 295 missing, but the health minister said it could reach 3,000.

By Hayley Jarvis for SOS Children