Wednesday, February 18, 2009
A powerful earthquake measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale shook the Talaud Islands north of Sulawesi on February 12.
A powerful earthquake measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale shook the Talaud Islands north of Sulawesi on February 12. The epicenter of the earthquake was some 112 kilometers (about 70 miles) southeast of Melonguane, Talaud District, North Sulawesi. At least 937 homes were heavily damaged, according to local disaster management officials. Ten persons were seriously injured.
Residents suffering from minor injuries were treated at a nearby community health center. Inhabitants of four other coastal villages, namely Sawant, Saru, Rais and Beo villages in the District of Talaud, fled their homes to safer areas in the mountains. In the week since the disaster, many have returned to their homes.
Response
Church World Service immediately deployed staff on an assessment mission to the affected areas, requiring a 10-12 hour boat ride from Manado in the north of Sulawesi. CWS staff were joined by partner agency Yayasan Tanggul Bencana di Indonesia (YTBI). Further CWS response is also being planned in coordination with partner YAKKUM Emergency Aid (YEU).
CWS distributed 120 blankets and 20 packages of tarpaulin in Pangeran village in the Kabaruan sub-district as an initial response. Additional materials and assistance may be provided later.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
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