Indonesia: West Java earthquake OCHA Situation Report No. 2

Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2006/0126

OCHA Situation Report No. 2
Indonesia (West Java) - Earthquake

This report is based on information received from the UN Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator's Office in Jakarta, Indonesia, and OCHA staff members in Yogyakarta.

SITUATION

1. The Indonesian Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG) recorded an earthquake of 6.8 on the Richter scale at 15:19 local time in southern Java, Indonesia, followed by several aftershocks. According to the US Geological Survey, the earthquake measured 7.7 on the Richter scale with a depth of 10.0 km.

2. Reports of casualties and damages varied, but the number continued to increase. The latest media reports put the figure of dead people to 37.

3. The earthquakes were felt in Jakarta city, Bandung city, Ciamis and Cianjur, and Tasikmalaya districts in West Java and in Surabaya city, East Java.

4. A Tsunami, generated by the earthquake, was observed in Pangandaran, Ciamis District, and in Cilacap and Kebumen districts, Central Java.

5. According to local media, the situation is as follows:

Ciamis district:

As of 18:00 (local time), six persons were reportedly dead due to the waves. The President instructed the population leaving along the coastal area of Pangandaran beach to move to safer areas. 60 people were missing and houses and cars along the beach were swept away by waves as high as five meters. Several hotels along the beach of Pangandaran were inundated by one meter of water. Unconfirmed reports from local people indicated twenty bodies were piling up in the local hospital.

Cilacap district:

The traffic was dense as people were staying on the road and trying to move to safe areas. Waves as high as five meters were also reported in this district. Local hospitals have been alerted to the possibility of influx of patients.

Kebumen district:

The waves in Petanahan beach reached 200 meters inland inundating tens of houses. People fled to the hills in Rawa Kele. 19 persons were reportedly missing.

Tasikmalaya district:

Cipatujah sub-district was very affected with three-meter heigh waves.

6. According to media, India's Andaman and Nicobar islands were put in high alert after a tsunami warning was issued. However, the local meteorological office said no tremors were felt in the islands.

NATIONAL RESPONSE

7. Kebumen Hospital sent medical team and two ambulances to Suwuk beach.

8. The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) has deployed fifteen volunteers to the affected areas.

9. A team of the Crisis Centre from the Ministry of Health is on the way to the affected areas. All health emergency regional hubs are on stand by.

10. The Ministry of Health's is responding to the emergency with the support from WHO. WHO has health kits ready for distribution.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

11. Two teams are being sent to the affected areas, one from Yogyakarta and the other one from Jakarta. The former is going to Central Java and includes staff from OCHA, Oxfam GB and Indonesian Red Cross. The latter is going to West Java and includes staff from OCHA, UNDP, UNICEF, WFP, and WHO.

12. The UN RC/HC Office in Jakarta continues to be in close contact with pertinent government and non-government institutions, as well as the Indonesian Red Cross to monitor the situation.

13. OCHA is in close contact with the UN HC/RC Office in Jakarta, the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok and will revert with further information as it becomes available. This situation report, together with further information on ongoing emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int.

Map: Indonesia: West Java earthquake - Location map

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Mr. Guido Galli, direct Tel. +41-22-917 3171
Mr. Masaaki Nakagawa, direct Tel. +41-22-917 4034

Press contact:

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(in N.Y.) Ms. Stephanie Bunker, direct Tel. + 1-917 367 5126