Cablegate: Earthquake in West Sumatra: Sitrep 1

O 011059Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3453
INFO USMISSION GENEVA
PACOM IDHS HONOLULU HI
ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE
NSC WASHDC

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

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