New Quake Hits Indonesia - Muslim Aid
An earthquake measuring 8.7 on the Richter scale struck the west coast of Indonesia’s Sumatra Island Monday 28 March 2005, at 11.09 pm (local Jakarta time) / 16.09 (UTC).
UN OCHA (PRWEB) April 1, 2005 -- An earthquake measuring 8.7 on the Richter
scale struck the west coast of Indonesia’s Sumatra Island Monday 28 March 2005,
at 11.09 pm (local Jakarta time) / 16.09 (UTC).
Several aftershocks have
been reported in the Simeulue and Nias region (up to 15 ranging from 4.9 to 6.1
in magnitude). There are no reports of tsunami waves as a result of the latest
earthquakes.
Initial reports indicate that Nias Island, Simeulue Island
and the Banyak islands, located off the southwest coast of Sumatra, are the
areas worst affected by the latest earthquakes. Nias Island, south of Simeulue,
has an estimated population of 444,000, of which some 1,780 people are
registered as internally displaced. Simeulue Island has an estimated population
of 77,751 people, of which 18,000 people are internally displaced. The Banyak
islands, located between Nias and Simeulue, have an estimated population of
5,000 people.
Current Situation and Response
Nias: While the exact
number of casualties has not been confirmed, there are approximately 200 dead
and over 300 injured, many of them severely. Medical evacuations of the most
serious cases are currently being carried out to Medan, Meulaboh and Sibolga.
WHO is sending doctors from Meulaboh to Nias to deal with trauma cases.
There is a need for emergency food rations, water and shelter. OCHA
Medan has dispatched 500 tents from UNHCR at the request of the inter-agency
advance assessment team. The tents are to arrive on a Singapore Chinook on 29
March. UNICEF is sending 2 water treatment plants to Nias.
Logistics
hubs will be formed in Sibolga and Medan. All available helicopters and small
aircraft have been drafted into Medan to assist with this operation. UNHAS is
sending staff to Nias to respond to the increased need for air traffic control.
The Government dispatched a team from Jakarta to assess the situation
and no request for international assistance has been made pending the outcome of
that mission. More assessments are being planned for 30 March throughout the
area, including Pulau Banyak and Aceh Singkil.
Simeulue: The
OCHA/WFP/Government (Dinas Sosial) team completed their rapid assessment of the
situation and found that most buildings constructed out of timber with light
corrugated steel roves suffered very little damage, whereas many of the concrete
buildings were damaged or collapsed (including the Bupati/Mayor’s office). The
population is generally fearful of a tsunami, probably because the water level
appears to have dropped. Many have moved out of their damaged homes into tents
or makeshift shelters.
Initial estimates of casualties report 3 dead and
47 injured in Sinabang Hospital. Although the hospital suffered structural
damage, it is still in operation and tents have been erected as a temporary
measure. All collapsed structures have been searched. Some casualties were
evacuated by light aircraft to Medan. International NGOs have not reported any
casualties.
The airport is operational with the normal flight timetable
to/from Medan on schedule. No suitable helicopter landing site has been found
for MI8s in the capital of Sinabang. The route from the airport to Sinabang is
open, but parts of the road are fractured. All bridges are open, but abutments
are damaged.
Communications on the island are poor. Satellite telephones
and HF radios are in need. The Indonesian army (TNI) is present and in desperate
need for communications equipment. A TNI reconnaissance team was deployed mid
afternoon and will attempt to provide assistance.
Main needs include:
tented hospital for 50 people; 2 tons dried biscuits for the hospital; general
doctors; hospital equipment; oxygen and basic medicines, glucose drips; 200
tents for homeless families; communications and GPS equipment. In this initial
phase, CARE, CRS and SC have indicated they would be able to assist with a
number of these requirements.
Banyak islands: A rapid aerial assessment
of Banyak and Singkil islands, which were nearest to the epicentre of the 8.7
earthquake, revealed that life appeared to be normal with little to no
destruction and no visible humanitarian needs. No helicopter landing site exists
on the island.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/4/prweb223583.htm