Cablegate: Mgeap1: West Sumatra Earthquake - Sitrep 5

VZCZCXYZ0486
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHJA #1671/01 2790333
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 060333Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3499
INFO RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 7968
RHHJJPI/PACOM IDHS HONOLULU HI
RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

UNCLAS JAKARTA 001671

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP MARCIEL, 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: AEMR ASEC PGOV CASC MARR ECON PREL PINR AMGT EAID
AQ, ID, LA, RP, TN, VM, WS
SUBJECT: MGEAP1: WEST SUMATRA EARTHQUAKE - SITREP 5

Reftel: Jakarta 01654 and previous.

1.(U) The following information is current as of Monday, October 5,
1500 hours, local time.

CONDITIONS ON THE GROUND

2.(U) As a result of heavy rains, the GOI had to stop activities in
Padang for three hours this morning. The GOI is aware of the dire
need to get into the surrounding areas, but landslides have made it
nearly impossible to get assistance teams there. Electricity has
been restored to approximately 20 percent of Padang, and the power
company expects to have it fully restored by week's end. Area
hospitals are beginning to receive supplies but patients continue to
sleep in tents because the buildings are severely damaged.
Sixty-five percent of the mobile phone network has been restored.
The area near the port remained relatively undamaged so food stalls,
small restaurants and local markets in that area are open. The
central market remains closed and there are reports of rapidly
rising food prices.

DEATHS AND INJURIES

3.(U) In line with SAR teams' expectations, the most recent
official figures for dead and injured has increased from reftel
report. As the rescue effort widens to include the outlying areas,
these numbers will rise possibly into the thousands. 608 people are
listed as dead; 897 as lightly injured; 596 as seriously injured;
and 343 as missing.

CONSULAR MATTERS

4.(U) Jakarta/CONS has accounted for all registered Americans
presumed to have been in the earthquake zone. We made contact via
telephone, SMS, email and walkabout to Amcits' registered
residences, and hospitals, hotels and morgues in Padang. We
communicated with known addresses of Amcits' interested parties who
are outside the Padang area, including in the United States. Based
on our on-site evaluation and the lack of relevant communications
with interested parties, we continue to believe that no/no Americans
are in physical distress, killed or injured, or remain in harm's way
as a result of the earthquake. Conoff in Padang tracked down and
spoke with the manager of the collapsed Ambacang Hotel, and reviewed
its guest register. Most of the casualties are Indonesian; none
were registered as U.S. passport holders. We are closing the loop
on a few inquiries of Amcits who we understand are out of the area.
Jakarta's remaining Conoff in Padang returns to Jakarta on 6 Oct,
and Medan officers TDY in Padang will take over Amcit issues, if any
arise. Jakarta/CONS will add to future sitreps only if a CONS issue
arises.

USG ASSISTANCE - USAID

5.(U) We continue to work with the Indonesian authorities, civilian
and military, to ensure that our assistance addresses the needs that
the GOI has identified as quickly and efficiently as possible. An
11-person DART team arrived in Jakarta on Sunday, October 3 and six
of its members have arrived in Padang. Also on October 3, USAID
provided Mercy Corps International with a USD300,000 grant. As
reported reftel, Mercy Corps will focus on providing shelter, water
materials and medical supplies. On Tuesday, October 6, a flight of
USAID/OFDA relief commodities from Dubai, including hygiene kits,
power generators, water containers, and plastic sheeting is
scheduled to arrive in Padang. Additional details will be provided
by DART Info Officer, Diedra Spencer septel.

USG ASSISTANCE - DOD

6.(U) The Secretary of Defense authorized $7 million for
relief operations in Indonesia. The morning of October 3 Admiral
Landholt and other members of the HAST team arrived in Jakarta and
then traveled to Padang in the afternoon. The Admiral met with PO
Stan Harsha and GOI officials to arrange for the delivery and set up
of the field hospital, as well as to discuss other assistance. The
USS McCampbell and the USNS Richard E. Byrd will join the USS Denver
in logistics support operations. The U.S. Department of Defense
(DoD) is airlifting a Humanitarian Assistance Rapid Response Team
(HARRT) to Padang, with a scheduled arrival date of October 5. The
HARRT will provide medical treatment for between 200 and 250
patients per day.
7.(U) NGOs are aware of our C-130 flights between Jakarta and
Padang and have sought our assistance in delivering badly needed
materials. For instance, HOPE will send locally purchased medicines
and shelter to its mobile medical team which is working in the
Pariaman district (outside of Padang).

8.(SBU) Hatta Rajsa, State Secretary of the United Indonesia
Cabinet, expressed gratitude for a U.S. military field hospital and
the USS Denver's airlift support. He said imagery from P-3 flights
would help the government's damage assessment and inquired about
heavy equipment for excavation and well drilling. Helicopter
airlift capacity will get humanitarian assistance and maybe heavy
equipment to hard to access areas.

INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE

9.(U) The UNOCHA is acting as the lead coordinator of international
aid. OCHA is conducting assessment of requirements with its network
of NGOs and GOI. Preliminary results are expected Tuesday, October
6. We have confirmed reports of the following governments/NGOs
having provided assistance and/or funds: JICA (Japan) medical aid
and rescue team; AusAid Australia search and rescue team; Insarac
(Swiss) medical aid and rescue team; Turkey humanitarian aid; Church
World Services; European Commission; Malaysia; UNDP; Hope Indonesia
and IOM. We have unconfirmed reports that there are 72
international NGOs working in the area.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS

10.(U) Charge Osius and RDML Landolt will travel to Padang tomorrow
to welcome the OFDA plane and to see the set up of the mobile
hospital, as well as support and thank our team. The Indonesian
press, print and television, continues to report on President
Obama's phone call to President Yudhoyono. U.S. offers of
assistance have been widely reported. A popular newspaper, Rakyat
Merdeka, included CG Medan and USAID in its list of volunteers
actually on the ground in Padang.

EMBASSY JAKARTA MISSION DISASTER RELIEF OFFICER

11. Mission Disaster Relief Officer is Alfred Nakatsuma. He can be
reached at anakatsuma@usaid.gov. or by phone: (office)
62-21-3435-9434 or (cell) 62-8129178395.

Osius#

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