Two
massive earthquakes – including the strongest to hit Indonesia
since the one that triggered the devastating 2004 tsunamis –
have shaken the island of Sumatra, with tremors felt right around
the Indian Ocean.
The first quake, measured at magnitude 8.2, struck just after
6pm local time on Tuesday 12 September. The second, a magnitude
7.8, hit early this morning.
Initial Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) reports confirm some damage
to buildings along Sumatra’s south-west coast. A school
in Bengkulu city was severely damaged in the tremor, and in
Padang, the quake damaged factories and at least one car showroom.
So far there have been nine confirmed casualties, with at least
49 people injured.
However, according to Amara Bains, the deputy head of the International
Federation’s Indonesia delegation, getting a clear picture
of the true extent of the damage may take some time.
“The situation in urban areas is under control. Some buildings
have been damaged, but infrastructure is intact,” she
explained. “However, we are still waiting for assessments
to come in from rural areas where the situation may be significantly
more serious.”
According to Bains, buildings in rural areas tend to be weaker
and more susceptible to collapse.
“We’ve seen before, such as last year in Yogyakarta,
that an earthquake can devastate a rural community, whilst leaving
a city almost untouched,” she continued. “Houses
aren’t as strong, and people have fewer resources with
which to cope.”
Red Cross responds
PMI volunteers were among the first to respond to the quakes
with initial efforts focused evacuating people from the affected
region.
In Padang and Bengkulu, PMI quickly set up a series of emergency
health clinics to support local hospitals. Emergency relief
items have also been sent to the region, including 1,000 standard
earthquake medical packages, 2,000 tarpaulins and 1,500 hygiene
kits.
Volunteers are continuing to carry out assessments, and remain
in constant contact with PMI branches in Bengkulu and Padang
and with headquarters in Jakarta.
As aftershocks continue to rattle Indonesia, the Red Cross Red
Crescent remains on high alert.
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A
child sits in front of their broken house which collapsed
during Wednesday night's earthquake at Lais district near
Bengkulu September 13, 2007. (REUTERS/Beawiharta/courtesy
www.alertnet.org)
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