Indonesian refugees rest in a temporary camp in tsunami-hit Pangandaran, Indonesia, July 20, 2006. Refugees are now waiting for further relief distribution in the tsunami-hit Pangandaran and surrounding areas.  (Xinhua Photo)  Photo Gallery>>  Watch video>>

    PANGANDARAN, Indonesia, July 21 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian government Friday urged thousands of tsunami refugees in West Java province to return home, saying another tsunami is less likely.

    Around 45,000 people have taken refuge since an earthquake-triggered tsunami swept through 180-km coastline in southern Java Monday, killing at least 588 people.

    "It's safe now for them to return home, but they must remain vigilant," West Java Governor Danny Setiawan told reporters at Pangandaran, some 250 km southeast of Jakarta.

    He deplored rumors of another tsunami that caused refugees reluctant to return home.

    "Tsunami is less likely to re-occur, they can go home," he said.

    The governor also said post-disaster reconstruction would need an initial fund of 250 billion rupiah (around 27.2 million U.S. dollars) in the first year.

    Earlier Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono arrived to observe the earthquake and tsunami affected locations in Pangandaran and the handling of the emergency response in the areas.

    The President on Thursday visited the coastal communities in Banten province and ordered the Banten provincial government to prepare a set of steps and standard procedures that have to be followed by residents in the face of possible tsunami when an earthquake occurs.

    The southern coast of Java island was hit by an earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale, which triggered a tsunami on Monday afternoon, killing at least 588 and destroying or damaging 1,651 houses and buildings, boats and motor vehicles along the coast from West Java to Yogyakarta. It also forced 51,759 people to evacuate. Enditem