In Focus

A 7.6 Richter Scale (RS) earthquake struck West Sumatra on September 30, 2009 at   5.15 pm. The epicenter was located 57 km southwest of Padang Pariaman district, West Sumatra at the depth of 71 km. A tsunami warning was issued, but lifted one hour later.

Thousands of buildings and houses are totally destroyed. A total of 10.062 houses in Padang Pariaman district are collapsed. Around 19 public facilities are badly damaged; 50 schools are badly destroyed. In addition to that number, 88 houses of worship are severely damaged. Hundreds of buildings and houses are destroyed and badly damaged in Padang city.

The death toll has reached over 1000 people in West Sumatra, yet it is expected to rise. About 168 people are badly injured; 1.590 people in Padang city and 500 people in Padang Pariaman district are lightly injured. most of them are evacuated to the near hospitals. Thousands of people are still trapped in several buildings in Padang city. People in Padang Pariaman district prefer to remain close to their house, erecting tents, due to property security concerns.

Some roads to and from neighboring districts are cut off due to landslides. The route to Padang Pariaman from Padang is also cut off.  Although, Padang Pariaman can be reached through an alternative route: Sibolga – Payambungan – Pasaman – Simpang Empat Panti – Tipu - Padang Pariaman.

Shelters, medical supplies, and food are mostly needed by the affected communities. Heavy equipments are also needed to remove rubble as there are thousands of people trapped in the damaged buildings. In addition, there is shortage of petrol for generators.


Government Response

The Government of Indonesia has issued $10 million for emergency response. An Indonesian Search and Rescue team and Indonesia Armed Forces (TNI) are using inadequate heavy equipment to evacuate people that are trapped. BNPB sent the rapid response team to Padang today with tents, family tents, kitchen utensils, clothes, baby kits, blankets, and medicine.



Church World Service Response

CWS will focus its response in Padang Pariaman district, which is currently difficult to access due to roads blocked because of the quake. CWS already has one personnel in Padang Pariaman district doing rapid assessment on shelter, water and sanitation, and special needs for under-five children. CWS will also deploy a team of eight people for further assessment and response. The team has departed from Meulaboh and Calang, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam to Padang Pariaman today with two trucks of emergency aid, containing: 434 plastic mats, 1000 blankets, 131 (5x7) tarps, 133 (5x4) tarps, 200 family tents, 58 buckets of relief kit, and 1,357 baby kits. A base-camp will be set up once the truck arrived in Padang Pariaman. CWS plans to mobilize additional staff to be deployed to the affected areas. Psychosocial first aid and psychosocial for children will also be conducted in the earthquake-affected areas.


Coordination with ACT International Members

Close coordination has been carried out amongst ACT International members: CWS, YTBI, and YEU. YTBI will send emergency aid from Medan. YEU will send one team of medical doctor and two nurses from Nias.  In addition, CWS will also maintain coordination with government, UN agencies, churches and other I/NGOs.[IS/10/2009]