INDONESIA: JULY 17 TSUNAMI-EARTHQUAKE UPDATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 008959 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AEMR CASC EAID PREF SENV SOCI ID SUBJECT: INDONESIA: JULY 17 TSUNAMI-EARTHQUAKE UPDATE Ref: Jakarta 8956 JAKARTA 00008959 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. Summary. Casualty reports from the July 17 earthquake/tsunami in southern Java are mixed with local TV station Metro TV reporting 314 dead, Associated Press reporting 306 dead, and local government authorities noting 141 dead. Most observers expect casualty figures to rise as more information becomes available. There are no known Amcits injured or killed. Towns and communities along a 175- kilometer stretch of the Southern Java coastline have experienced significant damage to buildings, homes and fishing boats. An estimated 35,000 people have been displaced. A three-person team from the Mission is in the affected area meeting with local and international organizations. Government of Indonesia and UNESCO sources report the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center warned the Meterological and Geophysical Agency (BMG) approximately 20 minutes before the tsunami hit, but this was insufficient time for local authorities to organize a meaningful response. Reftel is a USAID disaster relief message requesting USD 50,000 in U.S. emergency assistance. End Summary. ¶2. The 7.7 earthquake occurred at 3:19 pm local time on July ¶17. The epicenter of the quake was approximately 224 miles south of Jakarta and 135 miles northeast of Christmas Island. The most heavily affected town is Pangandaran in Ciamis Regency, West Java Province. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii reported that the quake had a magnitude of 7.2 on the Richter scale, while the U.S. Geological Survey measured the magnitude at 7.7. The quake generated a tsunami several meters high that crashed into the coast at approximately 40 kilometers per hour. ¶3. USGS continues to report numerous aftershocks occurring in the general area of the epicenter. As of 3 pm on July 18, six aftershocks have occurred, ranging in magnitude from 5.5 to 6.3 occurred at 22:42, 22:45 and 23:09 on July 17, and 07:15, 11:18 and 12:27 on July 18. AMERICAN CITIZENS -------------- ¶4. There are no known Amcits living in or near Pangandaran. Consular staff contacted the homes of about a dozen registered American families living in neighboring towns of Tasikmalaya and Ciamis. In most cases, Amcits were not home but domestic staff confirmed their well-being. Amcits in the West Java capital of Bandung, home to many international schools and Indonesian language schools, report the earthquake did not affect the city. Post has received no registrations via its internet based registration system for Amcits planning to travel to the West Java coast. ¶5. Embassy staff from USAID, consular, and regional security sections arrived in Ciamis late afternoon local time July ¶18. They are visiting hospitals and meeting with local officials to inquire about foreign victims. An Australian Embassy officer who arrived in Pangandaran at 8:00 am local time July 18 told us he has visited many medical facilities and a makeshift morgue. He reported one morgue has five victims believed to be foreign. One is a Dutch citizen, one is reportedly "Arabic," and three are unidentified. Press reports indicate an unidentified "French woman" as one of the foreign victims. Australian Embassy personnel spoke with several Australian hikers and surfers who were caught by the earthquake and tsunami, but were not injured. One surfer spent the night floating on his surfboard at sea, but is now fine. ¶6. Post has received welfare and whereabouts inquiries for nine Amcits traveling in Indonesia and resolved two. The other seven individuals are traveling in Bali, Lombok and North Sulawesi. One has plane reservations to depart Indonesia for Vietnam on July 18. We have received no inquiries about Amcits believed to be traveling anywhere near the affected area. EMERGENCY RESPONSE -------------- JAKARTA 00008959 002.2 OF 002 ¶7. USAID has prepared a disaster declaration and is requesting an immediate USD 50,000 to provide relief for the earthquake affected victims in Southern Java. USAID will channel funds to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in order to support the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI). ¶8. The Indonesian Red Cross has already deployed volunteers to provide search and rescue in the affected areas. The World Health Organization (WHO) is facilitating the Ministry of Health's (MOH) operations, and has health kits ready for distribution. A rapid response team led by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) is visiting the affected area on July 18. The team includes staff from UNOCHA, the UN Development Program (UNDP),the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF),the World Food Programme (WFP) and the WHO. The International Medical Corps (IMC) is also assessing the situation in West Java. Following the IFRC/PMI initial assessment, we expect U.S. assistance will be required to support additional relief efforts including emergency supplies and transportation in the impacted area. MILITARY CONTACTS -------------- ¶9. The Defense Attache's Office (DAO) has spoken with Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) Headquarters personnel regarding any request for U.S. military assistance. TNI is still coordinating their response to the tsunami and has not indicated to DAO they will be requesting assistance. The U.S. Pacific Command has been monitoring the situation from the onset and based on reporting from DAO is not anticipating to assist in relief efforts at this time. EARLY WARNING SYSTEM -------------- ¶10. UNESCO and BMG sources told us on July 17 that The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii and the Japanese Meterological agency were able to issue local tsunami warnings to Indonesian and UNESCO authorities including the BMG. The warning was received at 3:38 pm local time predicting the possibility that a local tsunami might hit the shores at 4 pm. According to contacts at BMG, the BMG central office was able to relay information on to its Cilicap BMG office, which then contacted local police via radio. However, BMG does not have a local office in West Java and depends on local authorities for subsequent notification. In this instance, local authorities had insufficient time for meaningful reaction. PASCOE