Indonesia - Earthquake
OCHA Situation Report No. 2
08 May 2000



Situation and damage

1.  The damage caused by a strong earthquake which hit the eastern part of
Sulawesi island and neighbouring small islands in Indonesia on 4 May 2000,
is expanding. The tremor occurred at 04.21 hrs GMT, or 12.21 hrs local
time with a magnitude of 7.3 on the Richter scale based on the information
from the United States Geological Survey, followed by several aftershocks
and a tidal wave.

2.  According to a report provided by Bakornas PB of the Indonesian
Government through the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Jakarta,
the impact in two of the worst affected districts is as follows:

Damage in Banggai and Bangkep districts of Central Sulawesi province, as
of 7 May 2000:

                           Seriously      Slightly
               Dead          injured       injured

People          38              51            213


                              Totally     Seriously     Slightly
                            destroyed       damaged      damaged

Houses                        632           10,555         4,210
Government buildings           15              132           145
Public health centres           5               12            16
Schools                        53              138            87
Mosques/Churchs/Temples        32              139           110
Bridges                         4               14             5



Unconfirmed reports indicate that as many as 170,000 people have been made
homeless.


National Response

3.  The Indonesian Navy is sending 3 units to the disaster affected area.
The Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare and Poverty Alleviation is
planning to lead a fact-finding mission to assess the extent of the damage
and measures required this week.

4.  The Indonesian Red Cross is carrying out an initial assessment in
cooperation with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red
Crescent Societies.


International Response

5.  No request for international assistance has been received by OCHA to
date.

6.  OCHA is in close contact with the Office of the UN Resident
Coordinator and will revert with further information if the situation
warrants it.

7.  This situation report, together with further information on ongoing
emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at
http://www.reliefweb.int


Telephone:  +41-22-917 1234
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23

In case of emergency Tel. +41-22-917 20 10 only:

Desk Officers (OCHA Ms.  S.  Metzner-Strack / Disaster Response Branch)
Mr.  R.  Mueller / Mr. S. :  Matsuka direct Tel. +41-22-917 21 44 / 31 31
/ 40 34

Press contact:  Mr.  Donato Kiniger-Passigli, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53



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