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28 March earthquake: Situation report 2

USGS

Indonesia earthquake 2005

This report is prepared by Emergency Humanitarian Action (EHA) Section, WHO, Indonesia. Reference: Earthquake – North Sumatra Province and NAD Province, Indonesia – 29 March 2005

History of the earthquake and place

• A great earthquake was noted at 23:09:36 hrs, local time at epicenter, on Monday, March 28, 2005. The magnitude was 8.7 on the Richter scale and located in NORTHERN SUMATRA, INDONESIA. (by a seismologist). The epicenter located 90 km south of Sinabang with 30 Km Depth 2.065 N 97.010 E
• No major tsunami was reported near the epicenter.
• The earthquake was also felt in Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Cocos Island, Australia

Area affected

Major affected areas are the following:

• Nias Island, Nias Province, Capital Gunung Sitoli, Gido, Gomo and Teluk Dalam (District Capital of South Nias)
• Simeulue Island, NAD Province
• Pulau Banyak, NAD Province
• Singkil, NAD Province

Population at risk

There are no definite estimates of the affected population hit by the earthquake.

Affected population

Simeulue

• 9 deaths, 47 injured, 20 hospitalized on Simeulue Island
• The most recent reports indicate that there are an estimated 12,000 whose homes have been destroyed or damaged. Needs have been indicated for family tents, water purification equipment, watsan supplies, food, medicine, and non food items.
• A fire has been reported in Gunung Sitoli, Simeulue Island, this evening. Initial unconfirmed reports mentioned that 150 houses have been destroyed. No additional information is available on cause and casualties.

Nias

• 330 bodies have been recovered in Nias, death toll estimated to be 500 but is expected to rise.
• Local authorities put the death toll at between 300-500 and the number of injured at ten times this figure. 20 people were airlifted out yesterday and another 30 today.
• Estimates of building damage in Gunungsitoli range between 20% and 50% severely damaged. Most damage was done to cement and brick buildings.

Pulau Banyak

• Aerial survey conducted over Banyak Island but no clarity yet on damage

Singkil

• A joint mission by the Provincial Health Office (Banda Aceh) and WHO is planned for Singkil.

Central government support

Secretary of the Presidential office with a team has visited the affected areas on 29 March 2005. It has been reported that the President of Indonesia will visit Nias on 31 March 2005.

WHO response to the disaster

• A joint assessment mission was conducted on Simeulue by the Banda Aceh Provincial Health Office and WHO.
• WHO has two medical officers in Medan to provide assistance to the Provincial Health Office and other provincial authorities for coordinating the emergency.
• Two WHO Medical Officers arrived on Nias on 29 March and as of 30 March WHO has a team of 5 Medical Officers, one Water and Sanitation Expert and a medical logistician on Nias Island to assist in the coordination and identify the public health priorities.
• WHO will send 10 surgical kits as well as 2 Emergency Health Kits to Nias from Banda Aceh on 31 March 2005 and is planning to send 2 more Emergency Health Kits from Medan.
• 2 UN helicopters have been evacuating patients to Sumatra main island from Nias.

Immediate needs

• Medical services for affected victims to treat injuries and trauma including medical evacuations.
• Shelter, water, food, including infant and supplementary food for children, clothes, blankets, utensils, sanitary measures and emergency lights.
• Operational funding supports for health staff to be mobilized and provide health services to affected areas.
• Special transportation services to reach affected areas.
• Satellite telecommunication support.
• Infrastructure recovery including electricity and telecommunications

Immediate needs

• Mobile medical service for affected victims, injuries and trauma care.
• About 35 patients require medical evacuation from Gunung Sitoli town.
• Shelter, water, food including infant and supplementary food for children, clothes, blankets, sanitary measures and emergency lights.
• Operational funding supports for health staff to mobilize and provide health services to affected areas.
• Special transportation services to reach affected areas.
• Satellite telecommunication support.

Contact persons in Indonesia

The following persons can be contacted if more information is needed.

Source of Information from Indonesia

Information is gathered from the following sources and is not subjected for quotation as it might not reflect the actual true facts at the field level but can be used as references.

• International and local news media
• Bakornas buletin
• PPMK, MOH
• WHO teams in Nias Island, Simeulue Island, Medan, Banda Aceh and Jakarta