Indonesia West Sumatra Earthquake Field Situation Report 15 Jun 2005 - Siberut Island (Mentawai)

This report is based on information provided by the UNESCO Office, Jakarta, the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG), SATKORLAK PBP West Sumatra, Siberut Selatan and Siberut Utara Sub-District, UNESCO Siberut Team, Siberut National Park, Yayasan Citra Mandiri and MUSPIKA Siberut Selatan and Siberut Utara.
Situation

1. An earthquake measuring 6.7 M hit West Sumatra Province on 10th of April 2005. According to the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency, the epicenter of the earthquake was approximately 105 km southwest of Padang city, at a depth of 19 km and 40 km east from Muara Siberut, the capital of the Sub-District of southern Siberut. The intensity of the quake was between IV -- V MMI (Modified Mercally Intensity) in Padang City.

2. The earthquake did not cause any human casualties and damage to infrastructure was limited to buildings in swampy areas. For example, in Muara Siberut, capital of South Siberut Sub-District, the buildings of a Junior High School (SMPN I) were damaged beyond repair. Meanwhile, in Maileppet of South Siberut Sub-District, most of the building in the National Park compound, as well as those located near and in the harbour areas were also seriously damaged. The pier in the harbor, although it is still functioning, has been uplifted about 20 cm.

3. After the occurrence of the earthquake, people in most of the coastal villages in Siberut took refuge and built temporary shelters, using makeshift tents with plastic covers in higher ground areas. These IDPs settlements are located approximately one to two kilometers from their respective villages. Now, two months after the earthquake, most people have built semi permanent shelters/houses (made of thatch and wooden boards) in the IDPs settlements. During the daytime people will go down to their home villages and undertake their daily activities but return to the IDP settlements in the evening. They are reluctant to live and sleep in their home villages because they still feel unsafe, due to the daily occurrence of tremors . There have also been rumors predicting the locations of future earthquakes and tsunamis. For example, one of the rumors said that the epicenter of the next earthquake would be underneath the Mercusuar Hill, which is the most populated IDP camp in southern Siberut.

4. People who live far from the hills (e.g., Dusun Pei-Pei, Desa Taileleu and Sagulubbe) have to face serious conflicts amongst different members of the same communities. The conflicts are triggered by the fact that many of them prefer to live in the IDPs settlements and others remain in their home villages. Important questions faced by these communities are whether they should relocate their houses or not, which school(s) should be relocated to the new/IDPs settlements, whether they have to build permanent houses in the IDPs settlements or whether they should stay in their previous housing locations, etc.

5. There are no exact data on the total number of IDPs in Siberut, but the number could be as high as 10,000. In the vicinity of Muara Siberut and Muara Sikabaluan alone, there are currently 20 IDP settlements inhabited by more than 5,000 people. The overall situation at the IDPs' settlements reflects mitigation efforts by the villagers themselves. Aside from the semi permanent housing they have built, most of the IDPs also installed sanitation facilities. The health care staffs from PUSKESMAS in southern Siberut have also stored some medical supplies in the IDPs settlements for emergency purposes.

6. Even though small tremors continue to occur, at least once a day, teaching and learning activities in schools, as well as public services by local government offices are operating normally.

7. There are some challenges in regard to communication and access to information, especially in Muara Sikabaluan, the capital of the sub-district of North Siberut. There is no regular telephone network in Muara Sikabaluan. The existing radios are broken and there are no walkie-talkies available for coordination and preparedness activities.

Response

1. The District Government has established a coordinating mechanism with government authorities at the Sub-District level (Kecamatan), as well as at the Provincial level (SATKORLAK PBP West Sumatra). However, the mechanism for disaster management has not been functioning effectively.

2. SATKORLAK PBP West Sumatra, together with a team from the Meteorological and Geophysics Agency, had undertaken two separate missions to Siberut Island. The purpose of the mission was to provide the villagers with information about earthquakes and related tsunamis to increase local knowledge about these disasters, and encourage a safe relocation to their villages. The first mission was conducted in the capital of Sikakap Sub-District and the second one was aimed at the inhabitants of the capitals of the other 3 Sub-Districts (Siberut Utara, Siberut Selatan, and Sipora).

3. The Provincial Government has started negotiating to buy land on high grounds (100 ha) to relocate the population from Muara Sikabaluan Village of Siberut Utara SubDistrict.

4. Due to its long history working with the Siberut National Park in the Siberut Biosphere Reserve, UNESCO Office Jakarta and its 20 Siberut project staff have been able to provide a rapid response during the emergency phase and continue to monitor the situation in the area. During the early phase, SurfAid International provided 2,771 mosquito nets to IDPs. The distribution was facilitated by the local SurfAid, the UNESCO team, as well as local NGOs. The Sub-Districts which received help were: South Siberut, North Siberut and Sipora. Furthermore, UNESCO conducted a rapid survey in the IDP settlements in cooperation with governmental and non-governmental agencies, including Siberut National Park, Yayasan Citra Mandiri, SurfAid, Kirekat, PUSKESMAS of Muara Siberut and the Head of Muara Siberut Village.

5. UNESCO has also trained IDPs in the construction of modest and hygienic sanitation facilities. UNESCO has provided materials and technical expertise to IDPs to build sanitation facilities in IDP settlements. UNESCO has also taken part in widening the walking path for evacuation purposes from the villages to the IDPs settlements.

6. Starting in July, UNESCO will provide training for all schoolteachers in South Siberut Sub-District on disaster awareness and preparedness.

7. Only a small number of people have received direct information or socialization from pertinent authorities about the risk for future earthquake and tsunami disasters. These include include Dr. Kerry Sieh' California Institute of Technology and Bambang, LIPI. (Indonesian Institute of Sciences).

Request for Assistance

1. The Head of the Office of education at Sub-district level has written a letter to UNESCO to provide training for teachers and students on earthquake awareness and preparedness.

For detailed information please contact:

Koen Meyers
UNESCO
Man and the Biosphere Programme Coordinator
Tel. 62 21 739 9818
Fax. 62 21 727 96 489
Mobile 62 816 351153

Regina Rahadi
Emergency Response Officer, OCHA
Tel. 62 21 314 1308
Fax. 62 21 319 00 003
Mobile 62 811 939 479