Kirghizstan: Earthquake [DHA-01: 13-Jan-97]

Kirghizstan: Earthquake [DHA-01: 13-Jan-97]



                              United Nations
                    Department of Humanitarian Affairs
                           Kyrgyzstan Earthquake
                        DHA Situation Report No. 1
                              13 January 1997



       1.   An earthquake measuring 7 on the Richter scale hit the
       territory of the Kyrgyz Republic on 9 January 1997 at 14:35
       UTC. The preliminary epicenter is located at latitude 41.4  N
       and longitude 074.20  E, some 200 km South of Bishkek.  An
       earthquake with similar intensity hit the same area in June
       1992.
                                                                    
                                                                    
                                                                    
         2.   Upon reception of the earthquake notification         
         messages from the European-Mediterranean Seismological     
         Centre and the US Geological Survey National Earthquake    
         Information Centre, DHA  immediately  established          
         coordination links with the UN office in Bishkek and the   
         Permanent Mission of Kyrgyzstan in Geneva.                 
                                                                    
         3.   Preliminary information received from Kyrgyzstan on   
         extent of damage follows:                                  
                                                                    
               -   Epicenter located in the Ak-Tala district in     
       Naryn region. Most               affected  villages are      
       Kosh-Dyube and Dzhergetal, which have a total                
       population of 3200 persons. While no casualties have been    
       registered,           the local power supply system has      
       been destroyed, more than 400 houses            damaged and  
       10 completely destroyed. The school of Kosh-Dyube, serving   
               360 pupils, and the local hospital have been         
       seriously damaged.                                           
                                                                    
               -   The Ministry of Emergencies conducting           
       assessment of damage and              identification of      
       relief needs, with the participation of two UN               
       officers from the Bishkek office. UN Bishkek also assisting  
       Government       in early coordination efforts.              
                                                                    
         4.   So far no request for international assistance        
         received from the Government of Kyrgyzstan.                
                                                                    
         5.   Additional information on this earthquake will be     
         disseminated by DHA's RCB Regional Desk for Europe and     
         NIS, upon completion of the ongoing field assessment.      
                                                                    
         6.   DHA is prepared to serve as a channel for cash        
         contributions to be used during immediate relief phase.    
         Funds are spent in coordination with relevant              
         organizations of UN System, and DHA provides donor         
         Governments with written confirmation on the utilization   
         of funds contributed.                                      
                                                                    
         7.   Funds should be transferred to DHA Account No. CO-    
         590.160.1 at Swiss Bank Corporation, Case Postale 2770,    
         CH-1211 Geneva 2, with reference: Kyrgyzstan -             
         Earthquake, DHA-Geneva.                                    
                                                                    
         8.   For coordination purposes, donors are requested to    
         inform DHA-Geneva, as indicated below, of bilateral        
         relief missions/pledges/contributions and their            
         corresponding value by item.                               
                                                                    
                                                                    
                                                                    
         Telephone No:  +41-22-917.12.34                            
         In case of emergency only:  +41-22-917.20.10               
         Desk Officer:   Mr. Sergio Piazzi, direct tel:  +41-22-    
         917.35.18                                                  
         Press to contact:  Ms. M. Moulin-Acevedo, direct tel:  +   
         41-22-917.28.56                                            
         Telex:  414242 dha ch                                      
         Fax:  +41-22-917.00.23                                     
         E.Mail:  dhagva at un.org                                  
                                                                    
                                                                    


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