Medan, N Sumatra (ANTARA News) - The University of North Sumatra (USU) will send a team of 50 psychologists and other medical workers to West Sumatra to help provide counselling for the recent quake victims in order to overcome their trauma.
Cooridnator of USU-Care volunteers Destanul Aulia said here on Saturday that the team would be composed of 50 persons coming from the psychology and medical faculties of the USU.

He said that the team members had the skills to cure traumatic scars of the quake victims, such as expertise on nutrition, psychology, hypnotherapy and other forms of therapies.

A powerful earthquake devastated Padang city, the provincial capital of West Sumatra on September 30, 2009, killing more than 1,110 and leaving more than 300 missing.
A total of 744 people were suffering from serious injuries, and 1,343 from minor ones.

However, unofficial estimates put the number of victims at thousands, as many were still buried under the rubble of collapsed buildings.

The earthquake also destroyed 101,653 houses, and caused damage to 97,995 others.

A number of hotels, restaurants and their supporting facilities were also destroyed. Of the 47 star-rated hotels in West Sumatra, 24 were damaged, 11 of which 11 were devastated, like the Ambacang, Rocky Plaza, Mariani, Nuasa and Hayam Wuruk hotels.(*)