OCHA Situation Report No. 1 Indonesia - Earthquake 5 June 2000
Situation and Damages 1. Several strong earthquakes have struck the Indonesian island of Sumatra since Sunday night. According to the Indonesian Geophysical and Meteorological Agency, the strongest of the series, measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale, occurred at 16.28 hrs GMT, or 23.28 hrs local time, on 4 June. The epicentre was located beneath the Indian Ocean around 100 kms southwest of Bengkulu city, at a latitude of 4.7 degrees south and a longitude of 102.0 degrees east. Other geological monitoring sources put the magnitude of the earthquake slightly higher (7.9 on the Richter scale). The tremor lasted several minutes and its repercussions were felt 540 kms away in Jakarta. So far there has been no report of a tsunami caused by the quakes. 2. Initial reports indicate that the earthquakes caused serious damage in Bengkulu province, particularly in the capital, Bengkulu city, where the total population numbers around 150,000 people. According to the Indonesian Disaster Management Coordinating Board (Bakornas PB), 58 people have been killed and 511 people injured, 255 of them seriously. Only 20 % of electricity is functioning in Bengkulu city. The quakes have also damaged a public hospital and Bengkulu airport. On Enggano island most of the houses have been damaged and all transport to the island has ceased. 3. According to the media, many houses have collapsed leaving thousands homeless. Electricity and water supplies were severed by the quakes and many phone lines are down. Several roads have been damaged. The death toll is expected to rise, since the search for bodies and people trapped in the rubble of ruined buildings has been hampered by widespread electricity failure and by the many aftershocks. 4. According to the Ministry of Health, surgical equipment and tents, emergency medicines and medical personnel are urgently needed. The Ministry will send a needs assessment team on 6 June. National and International Response 5. Bakornas PB has issued instructions to all ministries concerned to mobilize their resources to respond to the disaster and to conduct needs assessments. Once initial emergency relief measures have been undertaken, and further needs have been assessed, a coordination meeting will be arranged by Bakornas PB for 7 June. 6. According to the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Jakarta, Bakornas PB has indicated that the Government would welcome international assistance. The Office of the UN Resident Coordinator is in close contact with the relevant governmental authorities with a view to obtaining further information on the disaster. 7. The Japanese Government has pledged to provide medical personnel and supplies. The Swiss Government intends to send an expert to the disaster area. IFRC is dispatching an assessment mission from Jakarta on 6 June. 8. OCHA is in touch with the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator and will deploy a United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team to Indonesia to assist the UN Resident Coordinator, the UN Disaster Management Team (UN-DMT) and the Government in dealing with the emergency. 9. 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 only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10 Desk Officers: Ms. S. Metzner-Strack / Mr. R. Mueller / Mr. S. Matsuka Direct Tel. +41-22-917 2144 / 31 31 / 40 34 Press contact: (in GVA) Mr. Donato Kiniger-Passigli, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53 (in NY) Ms. Phyllis Lee, direct Tel. +1-212-963 4832