Cablegate: West Sumatra Earthquake: Sitrep 4

VZCZCXRO0793
OO RUEHDT RUEHPB
DE RUEHJA #1654/01 2760551
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 030551Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3465
INFO RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 7960
RHHJJPI/PACOM IDHS HONOLULU HI
RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 001654

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP, CA, USAID FOR DCHA/OFDA KLUU, ACONVERY, AND RTHAYER,
ANE FOR KROSEN, BANGKOK FOR ADWYER, NSC FOR PMARCHAM, GENEVA FOR
NKYLOH, PACOM POLAD/J3/J5

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV CASC ECON EAID SENV ID
SUBJECT: WEST SUMATRA EARTHQUAKE: SITREP 4

Reftel: Jakarta 01652 and previous.

1. The following information is current as of Saturday, October 3,
1100 hours, local time.

CONDITIONS ON THE GROUND

2. Search and rescue operations continue. There are reports that
approximately 60 people may be trapped in the Ambachang hotel, which
caters to foreigners. Major roads are reportedly open, although
travel is extremely slow. The telecommunications are improving and
major hotels have power in the evening so cell phones are getting
recharged. Fuel remains in limited supply and there are reports of
widespread hoarding. The Padang mayor has stated that Padang has a
twelve day supply of fuel, an estimate which experts question.
Vehicles and drivers are difficult to find because of the fuel
shortage as well as the fact that international relief teams are
hiring them. To date, all of the search and rescue and relief
efforts have focused on Padang. According to reliable sources the
destruction in the outlying areas is more severe than what has
occurred in Padang. The local government announced that banks in
Padang will re-open on Monday, October 5.

DEATHS AND INJURIES

3. The official figure for deaths has been revised upwards to "more
than 460." According to the Indonesian press 275 people have been
severely injured and more than 2,500 have been slightly injured.
There are credible reports of victims trapped under the rubble, so
the local government has requested "Diamond Knives," equipment to
cut through the collapsed buildings. Posts points out that these
figures/reports are from Padang city only, because as noted above,
the GOI has not yet focused on outlying areas.

CONSULAR MATTERS

4. All Amcits who we are aware of, either thru registration with us
or reported as being in Padang and Bengkulu districts, are accounted
for. In some instances our Padang team went to their last known
address and neighbors report that the Amcits are no longer living
there or the house is gone (not by earthquake but by redevelopment).
In other instances we had direct contact with the Amcits. No
Amcits are at local morgues or hospitals. We continue to learn of
Amcits who may be in Padang, or were in Padang but now in Jakarta,
and either we or they notify interested parties in the U.S. None
have needed further consular or financial assistance. One Amcit
long term resident of Padang was reported to us by his U.S.
relatives as being ill prior to the earthquake; we are following up.

5. The main remaining consular concern is likely Westerner
casualties at the Ambacang Hotel. An Amcit guest who escaped states
that the swimming pool was full of Westerners swimming and the "pool
disappeared under one part of the hotel that collapsed over it." He
does not know of other Amcit guests. The hotel's guest register and
office is buried under rubble and it may be several days before the
extent of casualties is known. We have received no inquiries from
interested parties regarding Amcit guests of the Ambacang Hotel.
Our German consular counterparts report several dozen unaccounted
for German citizens in the Padang area. A Conoff will be at the
Padang Hotel to Tuesday, 6 Oct, and can stay longer if needed.
Otherwise our consular role will diminish rapidly. Jakarta Conoff
Paul Howard is available through the embassy duty officer as needed
over the weekend.

USG EFFORTS

6. In response to request from GOI for assistance, U.S. Pacific
Command is moving assets, including personnel to conduct assessments
and provide a timely response. U.S. Pacific Command has sent a
humanitarian assistance survey team (HAST)composed of personnel from
various units within USPACOM to assess the situation and provide
aid. Additionally, USS DENVER, with embarked 31ST Marine
Expeditionary Unit, has been ordered to sail in the vicinity of
Padang and is expected to arrive by October 8. An order has been
executed to bring in HART-2 C17. A 500 square meter field hospital,
which can handle 300-400 patients per day for 4-5 days without
additional supplies, will be set up.

7. USAID expects to award Mercy Corps a USD300,000 grant in the
very near future, possibly today. Mercy Corps will focus on
providing shelter, water materials and medical supplies. USAID
expects that a commercial charter air may bring in medical supplies,
generators and blankets on Monday, October 5 directly from Dubai to
Padang. An eleven person DARRT team will arrive in Jakarta Sunday,
October 4 at 15:55 local time. They will identify a self-sufficient

JAKARTA 00001654 002 OF 002

location in Padang.

INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE

8. Post was told informally that the Russian Embassy is arranging
to send in a 100-patient facility. As reported reftel, teams from
Japan, Korea, Singapore and others are on the move.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS

9. Public Affairs has issued a press release on the White House
readout of the President's Call to Indonesian President Yudhoyono.
PAS is preparing a Special Edition of the Daily Round Up and
partnering with APP Medan to produce Padang Quake update. The local
press continues to include in its coverage of the earthquake reports
of international assistance.

EMBASSY JAKARTA EARTHQUAKE OPERATIONS CENTER

10. The EOC will extend it hours as needed. Unless there is a
need, the EOC will be open Saturday, October 3 until 1530 local time
and 0900 until 1500 Sunday, October 4. As noted reftel, 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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