surfaid 5 Mar 2008No Comments 313 views Print Email

  Green, surf

The Mentawai Islands Regent has declared a state of emergency in the region until March 11, 2008, in the wake of a rapid assessment of the southern islands of this West Sumatran archipelago.

According to SurfAid E-Prep Field Manager Ray Mathias, the Mentawai Bupati and head of the Sikakap Sub-District have been assessing the damage and casualty situation in North Pagai. This region seems to have suffered the brunt of this week’s earthquakes which measured up to 7.2 on the Richter scale.

So far 2 people have been confirmed killed and a number injured, while hundreds have evacuated to higher ground and are living in makeshift camps. Rough seas continue to hamper efforts to collect data. Rapid assessments have concentrated on the villages of Saumanganya and Matobe.

In Saumanganya a primary school, church and 2 local health department staff homes, 18 residents’ homes and the Sub-District Government head office have been destroyed. Damage has also been reported at the junior high school, 35 more homes and the Sub-District health centre. According to locals, who are evacuating each night to sleep in the hills, 32 children are suffering from diarrhea. One child died on the first day after evacuation. Five adults are also suffering from diarrea many children have fever and coughs.

“There are not enough tents or tarpaulins here,” said Mathias. “There is enough water, but they need oralit, tents, mats, blankets and a school tent.”

Mathias has also joined a rapid assessment of the Matobe area. In the Tunang hamlet 54 homes and the local church have been badly damaged, while 7 homes and the local primary school have suffered minor damage. The entire population of 144 families has evacuated. While in Sarere hamlet 7 homes and the local church have been badly damaged. One person was reported injured here while 77 families have evacuated.

The February quakes come just five months after the devastating September 2007 earthquakes which resulted in a major humanitarian response by SurfAid International and other organizations.

Scientists have warned that these latest earthquakes could be the prelude to even more powerful earthquakes in the region. SurfAid currently implements a community-based disaster management program in the Mentawai Islands supported by the Australian Government through AusAID.