Cablegate: Earthquake Off Coast of Java

VZCZCXRO6786
OO RUEHDT RUEHPB
DE RUEHJA #1467 2451058
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 021058Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3231
INFO RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHML/USPACOM REP PHILIPPINES MANILA RP
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

UNCLAS JAKARTA 001467

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, CA/OCS, CA
NSC FOR J. BADER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV CASC ECON EAID SENV ID
SUBJECT: EARTHQUAKE OFF COAST OF JAVA

REF: JAKARTA(POL-JNOVAK)/OPS CENTER 09/02/09 EMAIL

1. (U) On September 2 at 2:55 p.m. local time, a 7.0
magnitude earthquake struck western Java, Indonesia. The
earthquake was centered off the southern coast of Java,
approximately 125 miles south of Jakarta, but could be felt
throughout the capital. Jakarta citizens rushed out of their
office buildings after feeling the initial quake, and the
Embassy in Jakarta was evacuated until the earthquake had
ended. There are reports that some tall buildings in Jakarta
suffered some structural damage. Contacts have reported that
there was minor damage to infrastructure, mostly private
homes, in the city of Bandung, the capitol of West Java
Province. Several houses collapsed, including the mayor's
house, in Tasikmalaya, the city closest to the epicenter on
the southern coast of Java. We're receiving media reports of
a small number of casualties, 6 people killed at the time of
this report, in Tasikmalaya. Phone lines were damaged in
that region as well.

2. (SBU) Contacts at the Presidential Palace told us the
earthquake caused minor damage in parts of Western Java, but
they did not yet have any reports of serious damage. The GOI
has not made any request for assistance. A tsunami alert was
issued for the island of Java, but the Pacific Tsunami
Warning Center had retracted the alert given low sea levels.

3. (U) Mission is working to account for American citizens
who may have been affected by the earthquake. American
Citizens Services has not received any reports of injuries or
casualties. The Regional Security Office has accounted for
all Mission personnel. Embassy facilities and housing appear
not to have been damaged though inspections are ongoing.
HUME

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