An earthquake of magnitude 7.7 on the Richter scale struck the Mentawai Islands off the western coast of Sumatra in the late evening of 25 October 2010. The earthquake epicentre, located at a depth of 25km, triggered a tsunami alert and within minutes waves of up to four meters struck most of the southern part of Mentawai Islands, entering 400 to 600 meters inland. A number of aftershocks measuring 5.0 or more on the Richter scale were registered in the hours immediately following the first quake.
Based on the latest data from the Ministry of Health (BPBD) West Sumatra, the death toll in the District of North Pagai was 237 people, South Pagai 162 people, South Sipora 23 people and Sikakap nine people.
The number of serious injuries was 271 people and 142 minor injuries. 517 houses were severely damaged and 204 were slightly damaged. Seven places of worship, six schools, six government buildings, seven bridges, two resorts and one ship were also damaged.
Currently, as many as 14,983 people are still displaced. There are 8,394 people scattered in South Pagai, 2,793 people in North Pagai, 2,032 people in South Sipora and 1,764 people in Sikakap according to the Manager of Operations Control Center for Disaster Management (Pusdalops PB), West Sumatra.
The central government handed over IDR 1 billion (US$ 112,360) worth of aid while other relief items were distributed through the Ministry of Social Affairs and Ministry of Health (BNPB). The BNPB sent 500 rolling tents, 50 family tents, 500 sleeping mats, 80 blankets and 650 packages of food items while the Ministry of Health assisted Mentawai with four tons of medicines and five tons of food items.
Transporting the aid materials has been the main challenge faced by all relief agencies. The sea and air transport, the main available means of transportation through the Islands, depend heavily on the weather.
ACT members Church World Service Indonesia(CWSI), YAKKUM Emergency Unit (YEU) and Yayasan Tanggul Bencana Di Indonesia (YTBI) are providing food and non-food items, water and sanitation, health services and facilities, emergency and transitional shelter, livelihood assistance and training, psycho-social assistance as well as capacity building of staff and local partners and Disaster Risk Reduction.