OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Vanuatu - Earthquake
11 December 2002


Please find below OCHA Situation Report No. 1 on Earthquake in in Vanuatu.


This situation report is based on information provided by the Vanuatu
National Disaster Management Office (NDMO), through the office of the OCHA
Regional Disaster Response Advisor for the Pacific.


Situation and Damage

1.  A strong earthquake hit the northern province of Vanuatu, Torba, on
Tuesday 28 November 2002. According to the United States Geological
Survey, the earthquake measured 5.9 on the Richter scale with its
epicentre estimated at latitude 14.38 degrees south and longitude 167.78
degrees east (in the sea approximately 145 km north-northeast of
Luganville town on Santo).  Its origin time was 16.43 hrs GMT on 27
November 2002, or 03.43 hrs local time on 28 November.  Aftershocks up to
Magnitude 5.2 struck the same area over the next 24 hours.

2.  The earthquake affected Merelava in the South Banks Group, a small
island with a population of 1,143 in 5 villages.  Only 3 people suffered
minor injuries and the clinic on the island is still operating.  However,
landslide debris is blocking the one road that links the villages,
restricting access to the clinic, particularly for expectant mothers and
old people.

3.  According to the NDMO assessment report, the earthquake damaged nearly
100 buildings including 3 churches and all 3 primary schools on the
island.  Aside from the damage to housing, the worst impact was on
gardening areas due to landslides caused by the earthquake.  The main
staples are taro, manioc and banana, and it is feared that the root crops
will have been damaged by the shaking.  The main source of cash income was
copra, and the landslides have also destroyed some of the coconut palms.
Normal water sources are underground wells, surface water catchment works,
and household storage tanks.  23 out of 29 of these systems are reported
to be destroyed or damaged.


Response

4.  An aerial and ground assessment was conducted by officials from the
NDMO and the Department of Geology, and the chief government
representative on Merelava on 2 December.  The Health Department has
provided the boat from another clinic for use during the response
operation, and medical supplies to restock the clinic.  The RVS Tukoro (a
patrol boat) was also deployed to assist by providing reliable
communications back to Port Vila, and to repair the radio in the island
clinic. Aside from the provision of a helicopter for the assessment
mission, the Government of Vanuatu has supplied 200 litres of fuel and 69
tarpaulins.  Communities from Torba and Merelava living in Port Vila have
also made voluntary contributions of food.

5.  Immediate needs indicated in the assessment report are tarpaulins,
water containers, cement for repairs to water supply systems, seeds,
tools, and food.  Some supplementary food may be required from
mid-December for a period of three months.

6.  The National Disaster Committee (NDC) met on 2 December, and the NDMO
recommended in its assessment report that Merelava be declared a disaster
zone.  Another NDC meeting is to be convened on Friday 13 December to
consider the possibility of making such a declaration.  To date, however,
the Government of the Vanuatu has not yet declared a state of emergency
nor requested any international assistance.

7.  The office of the OCHA Regional Disaster Response Adviser is in
contact with the NDMO in Vanuatu and is monitoring the situation.  This is
the first and final OCHA report on this disaster unless other critical
information emerges.

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



Telephone: +41-22-91712 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

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

Desk Officers:
  Mr. R. Mueller / Mr. S. Nakajima
  Direct Tel. +41-22-917 31 31 / 40 34

Press contact:
  (GVA)  Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 2653
  (NYC)  Brian Grogan direct Tel. +1-212-963-1143


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