Note: The following appeal is now closed. You can support our ongoing work by donating to the Canadian Red Cross
A massive earthquake in Indonesia has killed over 300 people. With approximately 60 percent of buildings in the town of Gunungsitoli on Nias Island damaged or destroyed, it is feared the death toll may be much higher.
The 8.7 quake hit off the west coast of Sumatra and triggered tsunami alerts in an area still coping with the devastating effects of the December 26 tsunami, which killed over 250,000 people in Asia.
The Indonesian Red Cross has mobilized response team volunteers and the International Federation has an assessment team airborne and on the way to Nias Island.
Medical teams and specialists in reporting, relief co-ordination, water and sanitation and healthcare from the Red Cross will go to Nias and Simeulue tomorrow.
The Red Cross is also arranging for emergency relief items to go to Nias from its warehouses in Meulaboh, Medan and Banda Aceh. A large landing craft will carry relief goods from Meulaboh to the islands tomorrow evening, carrying body bags, tents, 4x4 trucks, kitchen sets and four cargo trucks. An additional five boats have been hired to transfer other relief items.
The Canadian Red Cross has seven relief workers supporting the relief efforts in Indonesia.
The Red Cross is not seeking any additional funding or other assistance from donors for this operation, and no additional personnel or materials are being requested from outside the region. Emergency stocks already in the area are being utilized.
Assistance provided by the Canadian Red Cross will be funded through donations to the appeal for the Asia Earthquake/Tsunami of December 26, 2004. At this time, additional donations are not required.
Although the epicentre was 30 kilometres under the sea and alarms were sounded across the disaster area of possible tsunamis, the alerts were scaled down three hours later as the threat ceased. However, evacuations of at-risk coastal areas took place and people were told to move inland to safer areas.
This earthquake underlines the critical importance of solid disaster preparedness plans in the region. The fact that warnings sounded, evacuations occurred and emergency teams were ready to respond quickly indicate how much more preparedness work has been done since the December catastrophe.
This earthquake also brought back traumatizing memories for survivors of the December tsunami. While the Red Cross is helping to provide residents with permanent housing and livelihood during the long-term recovery program, there is also a commitment to provide psycho-social support to help survivors deal with the psychological effects of the tsunami.