Cablegate: Indonesia Tsunami-Earthquake July 21 Update

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OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHJA #9159/01 2020944
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 210944Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7590
INFO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA IMMEDIATE 9752
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON IMMEDIATE 0959
RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY IMMEDIATE 3196
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE 0751
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS IMMEDIATE 0919
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
RUHPSAA/SOCPAC HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 009159

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/MTS
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AEMR CASC EAID PREL SENV SOCI ID
SUBJECT: INDONESIA TSUNAMI-EARTHQUAKE JULY 21 UPDATE

Ref: A. Jakarta 9044 (July 18 Update)
B. Jakarta 8959 (July 17 Update)
B. Jakarta 8956 (DISASTER DECLARATION)

JAKARTA 00009159 001.2 OF 002

Summary. The GOI has adjusted its count of victims from the
July 17 earthquake and tsunami to 493 dead, 954 injured and
362 missing. An estimated 74,000 people have been displaced
but most are expected to be returning to their homes over
the weekend. The Indonesian government estimates damages
(actual and lost tourism) at USD 20 million. The three-
person Embassy team returned from the emergency site after
meeting with GOI officials and relief organizations to
gather information and concluded that no Americans were
injured or killed. National news wires, television and
print media all carried press release information about the
USG $50,000 contribution to Red Cross/Red Crescent disaster
relief in their straight news reporting on July 20. WHO, in
conjunction with the District Health office, indicated that
the emergency phase is over. Minister of Research and
Technology Kusmayanto Kadiman admitted that tsunami warnings
were received from Japan and Hawaii but without adequate
time to pass on to local communities. Kadiman noted the
need for more infrastructure and training to prevent future
tragedies. End Summary.

CASUALTIES AND FINANCIAL LOSSES
-------------------------------

2. The National Disaster Management and Refugee Coordination
Board (BAKORNAS BPP) confirmed that casualties from the July
17 earthquake and tsunami include 493 dead, 954 injured and
362 missing. BAKORNAS PBP additionally estimates that
74,000 people have been displaced from their homes but the
majority will be returning home over the weekend. The death
count decreased as BAKORNAS PBP crosschecked statistics
among its coordinating teams in Central Java, West Java and
Yogyakarta. Officials said more casualties are expected as
rescue teams continue to search for survivors and dead
bodies among the rubble of houses and buildings. The
Indonesian government estimates damages (actual and lost
tourism) at USD 20 million.

AMERICAN CITIZENS
-----------------

3. Embassy Consular and Regional Security staff returned to
Jakarta on July 20 from the site of the tsunami. To date,
there is still no indication of any Americans missing,
injured, or deceased as a result of the tsunami. Post still
has 8 open Welfare/Whereabouts cases, though most of those
cases are for people believed to be in Bali or Lombok and
not in the affected area. The USAID team member returned on
July 21.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE
------------------

4. At July 20 UN Donor Coordination Meeting, the World
Health Organization (WHO), in conjunction with the District
Health office, indicated that the emergency phase is over.
Patient load has dropped and there is adequate medical staff
to handle medical needs. UN staff reported that an office
will be established for UN Agencies in Pangandaran.
Coordination meetings will be held every day with NGOs, with
UN Agencies taking the lead as follows: UN Children's Fund
(UNICEF) for education, child protection and
water/sanitation; International Federation of Red Cross and
Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) for shelter; World Food
Program for food and nutrition; and World Health
Organization for health. USAID provision of $50,000 to the
Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) through IFRC enabled PMI to
immediately deploy volunteers, transport relief items, set
up feeding kitchens and distribute nonfood items. PMI was
one of the first organizations to deploy staff and assist
vulnerable groups.

LESSONS LEARNED
---------------

5. The tsunami hit less than three weeks after the Indian
Ocean's regional network was declared active. Set up in

JAKARTA 00009159 002.2 OF 002

response to the December 2004 tsunami, the network comprises
26 out of a possible 29 national centers, which receive
information bulletins in real time from monitors in Japan
and Hawaii. Warnings from Hawaii and Japan were issued via
e-mail, fax and a dedicated telecommunication system after
the July 17 earthquake was detected, but Indonesian
officials could not relay the warnings in time to residents.

6. Science and Technology Minister Kusmayanto Kadiman
admitted on July 20 that the nation received bulletins from
the Hawaii center and Japan's Meteorological Agency right
before the tsunami on July 17. At that time, the Indonesian
Meteorological and Geophysical Agency (BMG) had sent short
text messages via cell phone to 400 government officials and
mass media but the giant waves moved within 20 minutes.
Kadiman noted that Indonesia needs to install early warning
detectors in every 10 kilometers in Indonesian waters,
especially in West Sumatra and South Java. Germany has
donated 10 early warning devices but only two of them were
installed and those were quickly vandalized by fishermen.
Government officials are blaming each other for the
ineffective early warning system communication. Experts and
officials agreed that additional infrastructure investment
and training is needed for disaster early warning and
community preparedness. Donor assistance in supporting such
efforts will likely be required.

PASCOE

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