INDONESIA: MAY 29 EARTHQUAKE SITREP

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 JAKARTA 006658 SIPDIS AIDAC SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AEMR ASEC CASC SOCI PREF PGOV SENV ID SUBJECT: INDONESIA: MAY 29 EARTHQUAKE SITREP REF: JAKARTA 06653 MAY 28 EMBASSY MEETING RE EARTHQUAKE ¶1. (U) Summary: A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck early May 27 south of the central Java town of Yogyakarta, causing widespread destruction and high fatalities. The current death toll has reached 5,010 with an additional 14,000 injured in the earthquake, with 8,000 requiring surgery (hospital capacity in Yogyakarta and surrounding area was 3,000 before the earthquake). Casualty figures are expected to increase as rescuers dig additional victims from the rubble. The earthquake damaged more than 25,000 houses, 10,000 of which collapsed entirely, leaving more than 100,000 persons homeless. Embassy on-the-ground staff report more than 95 percent damage to the village of Kotasan near Prambanan. The Indonesian Government estimates damage in excess of $300 million. Heavy evening rains have exacerbated harsh conditions for survivors. ¶2. (U) The Yogyakarta airport has reopened to receive relief flights and authorities have restored many services in the city, though the area closest to the quake remains without power or running water. Medical personnel are caring for a majority of patients outside of hospitals, for fear of structural damage to medical facilities. The U.S. has provided an initial $2.5 million in emergency relief supplies for the earthquake from Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) funds. The U.S. Pacific Command has dispatched an 82-member medical team from the Third Marine Brigade based in Okinawa. The first elements of the team will arrive in Yogyakarta the evening of May 29, with the remainder arriving May 30. Embassy teams are currently in the field conducting assessments in Yogyakarta, Klaten and Bantul, and making preparations for the U.S. Marine medical team. The Embassy team is in close coordination with the local government and other donors (UN, AusAID, Oxfam, other NGOs). The team reports that in Klaten, 90 percent of houses in the most affected sub-district sustained damage, and survivors still have received no visible assistance and remain huddled near their destroyed houses. ¶3. (U) The Indonesian Government May 29 assembled donor countries and international organizations in Jakarta to provide a situation report and outline key GOI decisions: the GOI will focus on reconstruction of housing to avoid keeping large numbers of survivors in temporary shelters; the GOI intends to revive the Yogyakarta region's economy through "massive cash infusions," particularly through compensation to individuals for losses (to include cash payments of Rp 2 million ($220) in cash for each deceased family member); Coordinating Minister for Peoples' Welfare Abu Rizal Bakrie will assume overall responsibility for the relief effort. ¶4. (U) The International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) and Indonesian Red Cross (PMI),a UN team (comprised of UNOCHA, World Food Program, and UNICEF),Oxfam, Singapore Mercy, Plan International, CWS, and other agencies are already conducting fieldwork, including quick situation assessments, and are holding daily coordinating meetings. The frequency of aftershocks from the earthquake has diminished. Volcanic activity, already high at the Mt. Merapi volcano, located approximately 20 km north of Yogyakarta, may have increased slightly since Saturday,s quake with a general increase in the number of rock falls and pyroclastic flows. USGS geologists warn that Merapi,s reaction to the quake may yet play out, citing examples of tectonic earthquakes that were followed by some increase in activity at Merapi. End Summary May 27 Quake Rocks Historic Central Java -------------- ¶5. (U) On Saturday, May 27, at 5:50 a.m., an earthquake struck Central Java with a magnitude of 6.2 on the Richter scale, centered in the Indian Ocean about 25-30 km south of Yogyakarta. Although major earthquakes of this kind are rare in Java, Indonesian government geologists say the quake occurred along a long-mapped fault that runs northeast from near the city of Parangtritis, on the south coast just south of Yogyakarta, north-northeast into Klaten province, just east of the famous 10th century Prambanan Temple, JAKARTA 00006658 002 OF 005 approximately 20 km east of Yogyakarta. The Yogyakarta airport was damaged in the quake but has reopened to receive relief flights. Both train and bus transportation to and within Yogyakarta has been restarted. Authorities restored electricity to most of the Yogyakarta area, but the area closest to the quake remains without power or running water. Telecommunications remain intermittent in much of the area, but are gradually improving. Death Toll Climbs to 5,010 -------------- ¶6. (U) As of late May 29, the death toll stood at 5,010. Data of reported deaths by regency: Bantul: 3,082 dead Sleman: 174 dead Yogyakarta: 151 dead Gunung Kidul: 42 dead Kulon Progo: 15 dead Klaten: 1542 dead Magelang: 1 dead Boyolali: 3 dead Damage Assessment -------------- ¶7. (U) An earlier, May 27 United Nation assessment of damage in the six most-affected areas: -- Njetis (population 49,000): 80 percent of buildings reported damaged with 100 fatalities. Evacuees are concentrated in shelters with location for future camp allocated. Well water is available to evacuees, with on-going evacuation using 2 buses. -- Imogiri: 80-99 percent of buildings reported damaged with 58 fatalities. Evacuees are concentrated in 5 settlements (Kebon Agung, Sriharjo, Selopamioko, Cermai, Wukirsari, Girirejo),with location available for future camp. Well and river water available to evacuees, but not sufficient. Evacuation is ongoing. -- Sawon (population 76,000): Evacuees are concentrated in 3 settlements (Bangunharjo, Timbulharo and Pendowoharjo). Well water and public kitchen services provided by local community available to evacuees. -- Pundong: (population 33,000) 90 percent of buildings reported damaged. Evacuees are concentrated into 2 settlements. Water source is unusable due to the impact of the earthquake. -- Pleret (population 34,000): 80%-90% of buildings reported damaged. Evacuees are concentrated into 2 settlements with 2 future camp sites available. -- Bangunpapan: 75 percent of buildings reported damaged. Evacuees are concentrated in one settlement located in Lapangan Jambitan. Evacuees reported gathering in any available open areas but are without shelter. Injuries and Destruction -------------- ¶8. (U) As of late Monday, May 29, some 14,000 appear injured in the earthquake, with 8,000 requiring surgery (hospital capacity Yogyakarta and surrounding area was 3,000 before the earthquake). Casualty figures are expected to increase as rescuers dig additional victims from the rubble. Many of the dead were immediately buried, and many of the injured victims were taken home without being treated by the area,s overwhelmed medical facilities. The earthquake damaged more than 25,000 houses, 10,000 of which collapsed entirely, leaving more than 100,000 persons homeless. Embassy on-the-ground staff report more than 95 percent damage to the village of Kotasan near Prambanan. The Indonesian Government estimates damage in excess of $300 million. Heavy evening rains have exacerbated conditions for survivors. Casualty figures are expected to increase, although the exact numbers JAKARTA 00006658 003 OF 005 of victims are difficult to collect. President Yudhoyono On The Scene -------------- ¶9. (U) President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono decided to coordinate the emergency response for the next four days out of a temporary office in Yogyakarta. GOI officials told the press the Government had prepared a total of $32 million for earthquake disaster response out of the 2006 emergency budget. TNI has mobilized 1,000 personnel and will provide heavy equipment, tents, medical equipment and supplies. The Indonesian Government reported late May 28 it would allocate $107 million to help rebuild the Yogyakarta region over the next year. Yudhoyono acknowledged a "lack of coordination" in aid distribution when he visited refugees May 29 and called for government officials to be "more agile," adding that "I saw in many areas that there are many things that need to be speeded up." Yudhoyono -- criticized by some as being hesitant to act in the past -- spent the first night after Saturday's quake sleeping in a tent along with survivors and moved his office to the nearby city of Yogyakarta to supervise relief operations. GOI Assembles Donors -------------- ¶10. (U) Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani assembled donors the afternoon of May 29 to provide a situation report and describe GOI priorities. DCM and Embassy USAID Program Coordinator attended for the U.S.; most all Embassies and international organizations sent representatives. Because President Yudhoyono summoned Mulyani to join him in Yogyakarta, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Boediono chaired the meeting. Most country representatives briefed on individual donor plans or proposed assistance; the UN representative called for greater donor coordination and said that he would call for a meeting of NGOs May 30 to coordinate assistance. ¶11. (U) Boediono reported that the GOI had established three priorities. The first was to focus on reconstruction of housing to avoid keeping large numbers of survivors in temporary housing. He said the GOI wanted to "push decision-making as low as possible" and provide "block cash grants" to accelerate reconstruction. Second, the GOI intended to revive the Yogyakarta region's economy through "massive cash infusions," particularly through compensation to individuals for losses, to include cash payments of Rp 2 million ($200) in cash for each deceased family member. Finally, Boediono announced that Coordinating Minister for Peoples' Welfare Abu Rizal Bakrie would have overall responsibility for the relief effort, although he somewhat confusingly urged donors to make contact with local authorities as well. ¶12. (SBU) President Yudhoyono clearly has put Boediono and other officials under pressure to move quickly to address Yogyakarta's problems and speed reconstruction. Several donors asked Boediono for a "negative list" of items Indonesian officials do not need to enable donors to focus assistance more effectively. The EU representative and several European embassies urged the GOI to develop an "Eighteen Month Reconstruction Plan." Several donors expressed their admiration for the speed of the U.S. response. Medical Resources Stretched -------------- ¶13. (U) Embassy Jakarta and CG Surabaya personnel in the area on May 28 reported an estimated 6,500 patients interned in 5 large hospitals and 8 small hospitals. Of these patients, 3,000 are interned in Bantul Regency hospitals, 2,000 in Sardjito General Hospital in Yogyakarta proper, and 1,500 in other regional hospitals. One field hospital is available in Bantul near the Indonesian Red Cross building. Injured are mostly reporting broken bones and head injuries. Medical personnel are caring for a majority of patients outside of the hospitals due to fears of structural damage to the JAKARTA 00006658 004 OF 005 buildings. Indonesian teams are performing structural analysis of the hospitals. Additional burdens to local hospitals include a high number of family members and friends of victims who have temporarily relocated themselves to the hospital facilities in order to care for injured family. ¶14. (U) Hospitals report that they have approximately two more days of medical supplies. Required medications include antibiotics, antiseptics, pain killers, anesthetics, intravenous solution, bandages, x-ray film, needles and suturing thread, latex gloves and other basic medical supplies. Other needs include field or mobile hospitals, first aid kits, medical waste disposal, additional medical staff, and vehicles to bring injured to hospitals/clinics. Homeless Increase Shelter, Food, Sanitation Concerns -------------- -------------- ¶15. (U) The estimated 100,000 homeless scattered throughout the Yogyakarta region have moved to available open spaces, fearing the collapse of formal structures. Running water is still available in Yogykarta proper, but remains unavailable in Bantul. No water or sanitation facilities exist in most of the present shelters. Sanitation and waste disposal has become an issue at hospitals due to the burden placed on existing facilities by the number of patients and their attending families and friends. Disaster relief coordinators associated with the GOI report a lack of tents, plastic tarps, blankets and sleeping mats. Disaster Relief Response -------------- ¶16. (U) The U.S. has provided an initial $2.5 million in emergency relief supplies for the earthquake from Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) funds. Embassy USAID staff are currently in the field, conducting assessments in Yogyakarta, Klaten and Bantul. They are in close coordination with the local government and other donors (UN, AusAID, Oxfam, other NGOs). The U.S. Pacific Command has dispatched an 82-member medical team from the Third Marine Brigade based in Okinawa. The first elements of the team will arrive in Yogykarta the evening of May 29, with the remainder arriving May 30. ¶17. (U) On May 29, an Embassy Environmental Services Program team began to conduct water supply and sanitation assessments at evacuation camps and hospitals. Assistance required to provide water and sanitation facilities includes water tanks/bladders, water tank cars, water pumps, equipment for producing drinking water, public restrooms, solid waste management (in coordination with GOI sanitation management authorities),garbage receptacles, and additional water resources (in coordination with local GOI water management authorities). In some camps, the Indonesian military and the Indonesian Red Cross have provided field kitchens. The World Food Program and the GOI,s National Logistics Board are currently arranging to provide foodstuffs for evacuees. Exact details regarding these arrangements are unavailable at this time. Additional foodstuffs including baby food and formula are required. Hygiene kits are currently being prepared for distribution to evacuees and generators are needed, especially at the hospitals/clinics. Assistance from Other Donors -------------- ¶18. (U) The International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) and Indonesian Red Cross (PMI),a UN team (comprised of UNOCHA, World Food Program, and UNICEF),Oxfam, Singapore Mercy, Plan International, CWS, and other agencies are already conducting fieldwork, including quick situation assessments and hold daily coordinating meetings. The UN Disaster Assistance Coordination Team (UNDAC) has deployed in-country staff to assess shelter, water and sanitation, food supplies and health facilities. In their on-going assessment UNDAC has preliminarily determined that distribution of supplies is problematic, while supply itself not an issue. This assessment team feels at this time that JAKARTA 00006658 005 OF 005 there are enough resources to support their operation and thus feels that they will not appeal for further donations. ¶19. (U) International assistance includes: Singapore: Four Singapore C-130 military cargo planes arrived May 28 at Yogyakarta airport with doctors and medical supplies. Singapore's personnel consist of medical teams (25 persons),civil defense disaster relief team (43 persons), and command team (14 persons),including eight medical doctors. They will be deployed to Jetis sub-district in Bantul district. Malaysia: A Malaysian rescue team arrived today, consisting of a search and rescue team (56 persons) plus medical and command teams. They will be deployed to Plered sub-district in Bantul district. Philippines: The Philippines will deploy a 20-member Philippine medical contingent with three tons of relief goods and medicine this week, according to Philippine officials. The team of doctors, nurses, psychologists and orthopaedic surgeons will leave as early as Tuesday aboard a Philippine air force C-130 plane for Jakarta, officials said. Italy: Sending an aircraft with 27 tons of tents, blankets and water purification equipment. Canada: Has offered $1.8 million and plans to send an 11-man reconnaissance team. China: Has offered $2 million Taiwan: Sent C-130 with supplies. EC: The European Commission has pledged US$ 3.8 million in emergency assistance. Quake Prompts Slight Increase in Merapi,s Activity -------------- -------------- ¶20. (U) Aftershocks from the May 27 earthquake have significantly reduced in number since Saturday, although on May 28 geologists still noted several aftershocks. Volcanic activity at the Mt. Merapi volcano, located approximately 20 km north of Yogyakarta, had been high for several weeks preceding the earthquake and may have increased slightly since. The main direction of pyroclastic flows has also shifted, but it remains unclear if this is a fundamental or temporary change. Seismic activity since the quake is dominated by aftershocks but there has also been a general increase in the number of rockfalls and pyroclastic flows, many of which flow into a river valley that extends right down into the area hardest hit by the earthquake. USGS geologists warn that Merapi,s reaction to the quake may yet play out, citing examples of tectonic earthquakes that were followed by some increase in activity at Merapi. They will continue to work closely with Indonesian geologists to monitor the situation, including any increase in the extrusion rate that might escalate into explosive activity. The Merapi observatory suffered moderate damage in the earthquake but is now fully operational. 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