EARTHQUAKE IN WEST SUMATRA: SITREP 1

UNCLAS JAKARTA 001645 AIDAC STATE FOR EAP, USAID FOR DCHA/OFDA KLUU, ACONVERY, AND RTHAYER, ANE FOR KROSEN, BANGKOK FOR ADWYER, NSC FOR PMARCHAM, GENEVA FOR NKYLOH, PACOM FOR POLAD/J3/J5 FROM CHARGE OSIUS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS:PGOV, CASC, ECON, EAID, SENV, ID SUBJECT: EARTHQUAKE IN WEST SUMATRA: SITREP 1 1.The following information is current as of 16:00 local time. ¶2. Padang, West Sumatra was hit by a 7.6 earthquake the evening of September 30. The epicenter of the quake was located 30 miles west/northwest of Padang. The affected communities include Padang, population in excess of 900,000 and Pariaman, population in excess of 90,000. A second earthquake followed at 17:38 hours near Jambi in east Sumatra. President Yudhoyono who, visited Padang with six ministers, estimates that this earthquake could cause more damage and loss of life than that that occurred near Yogyakarta, Java in 2006, when over 5,000 people were killed. DEATHS AND INJURIES - ALL AMCITS ACCOUNTED FOR ¶3. The Ministry of Social Affairs has confirmed 465 dead, 168 injured principally in Pariaman and Padang. Experts expect the toll to rise over 1,000. All known American citizens in the area are accounted for. SERVICES ¶4. Although most of Sumatra still has power, four transformers are down but the Padang and Pariaman districts have been hard hit. Gas stations are running out of fuel, and consequently many generators are out of use. There is still access to clean water but many pipes are broken. The four primary hospitals, all of which have collapsed, have sent up tents in order to treat patients. ASSISTANCE: REQUESTED AND U.S. RESPONSE ¶5. The Indonesia Government announced that while it had control of the situation it welcomed assistance from friendly nations. The Embassy has requested USD300,000 in early response disaster assistance. The funding will be used primarily to support emergency distributions of non-food items. Additionally, the Embassy has sent a small assessment team to the area to ascertain the condition of U.S. citizens and the extent of the damage to the area. Post will continue to seek ways to assist. INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE ¶6. Japan has dispatched a 66 person emergency rescue team with three dogs, a 23 person medical team and an unidentified number of earthquake damage assessment specialists. An international donor's meeting was convened late today by the UN and we expect to learn that additional assistance will be provided. MISSION'S RESPONSE ¶7. Charge has established a crisis response team. In addition to requesting USD300,000 in assistance, Post has also requested that a DART be sent. Embassy Jakarta dispatched two 4WD vehicles with supplies, including trauma kits. Additionally we have sent a team of six, officers from DOJ and CONS, to conduct an on-the-ground assessment. Point of contact is Joshua Finch who can be reached at FinchJN@state.gov or by phone at 62-21-08121237228. Osius