OCHA Situation Report No. 2
Indonesia: Earthquake
29 March 2005


An earthquake measuring 8.7 on the Richter scale (according to the USGS) 
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.

COORDINATION

A meeting of Heads of Sectoral Working Groups was organized to 
streamline the relief efforts and incoming offers for assistance as 
initial contacts with NGOs working in the affected area were established 
and first reports of the situation in Nias were received. Within hours, 
the HIC created an epicentre map of the earthquake, which was widely 
distributed.

Following the reports of the assessment missions, immediate action was 
taken by the various agencies through the OCHA office in Banda Aceh. 
OCHA convened a UNCT meeting and an IASC meeting in Banda Aceh to share 
information and decide on the next steps.

OCHA Meulaboh coordinated assistance for mainland West Aceh with 
information indicating minimal impact. OCHA Medan was in frequent 
consultation with Government counterparts, NGOs, and the military from 
Singapore and Malaysia to ascertain needs and coordinate relief efforts.

Meetings were also held with donors (DFID, Japan, France, Germany, and 
USAID).

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator (UN HC) a.i. and OCHA convened a meeting 
with NGOs and donors in Jakarta at 15:00hrs at which the United Nations 
and a representative of BAKORNAS presented the latest information. It 
was agreed that another briefing would be convened as soon as further 
information becomes available.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

Singapore will be sending a humanitarian assistance team to Nias Island 
comprising 3 Chinook helicopters, an SAF medical team and a Disaster, 
Assistance and Rescue Team (DART). The helicopters will support 
transportation needs and conduct medical evacuations in the disaster 
area. Representatives from the Singapore Red Cross and Mercy Relief will 
join the medical and DART teams. In addition, a C-130 transport plane 
will ferry additional personnel and relief supplies to Indonesia 
tomorrow morning.

OCHA Jakarta and BAKORNAS were in regular communication throughout the 
day on the issue of additional international assistance. The Government 
will determine the need for such assistance once the results of the 
assessment teams are available. The assessment teams will report back to 
the Vice-President and BAKORNAS this evening. It is likely that the 
Government will convene a briefing tomorrow.

OCHA Geneva has been informed that 20 Search and Rescue (SAR) teams are 
on standby in the region ready to be deployed pending a request from the 
Government of Indonesia for SAR assistance. OCHA has placed a 
four-person UNDAC team on standby, pending a request from the 
Government.

Singapore has placed 40 rescuers on standby and Malaysia has 20 rescuers 
on standby.

NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES

In the Maldives the alert system worked reasonably well. There was no 
panic in the streets although most inhabitants felt the tremor. The 
Government broadcast a message to the population inviting residents on 
islands to move away from the beaches and leave the buildings. The UN 
Resident Coordinator (UN RC) issued a similar message to all UN staff. 
Within the hour, national authorities and international partners in 
Male' gathered at the National Disaster Centre, and information was 
exchanged with the Minister of Defence. The Minister was further 
informed of the UN plan for disaster preparedness and response, and a 
specific request was made for the use of V-Sat equipment (as most UN 
staff confirmed that mobile phone lines were saturated during the first 
3-4 hours following the announcement in the media).

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

Aid agencies are encouraged to use the Virtual On-Site Operations 
Coordination Centre (OSOCC) at http://www.reliefweb.int to share 
information on assistance and coordinate activities.


Telephone: +41-22-917 1234
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23/06 28
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

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

Desk Officers:
   Ms. Marie Spaak/Ms. Rebecca Richards
     Direct Tel. 41-22-917 1728/3183

Press contact:
   GVA - Ms. Elisabeth Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53
   NYC - Ms. Stephanie Bunker, direct Tel. +1-917 367 51 26
   NYC - Mr. Brian Grogan, direct Tel. +1-212-963 11 43

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