Cablegate: Disaster Declaration: Earthquake in West Sumatera,

O 010947Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3451
INFO USMISSION GENEVA
PACOM IDHS HONOLULU HI
ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE
NSC WASHDC

UNCLAS JAKARTA 001643

AIDAC

STATE FOR EAP, USAID FOR DCHA/OFDA KLUU, ACONVERY, AND RTHAYER, ANE
FOR KROSEN, BANGKOK FOR ADWYER, NSC FOR PMARCHAM, GENEVA FOR NKYLOH,
PACOM FOR POLAD/J3/J5 FROM CHARGE OSIUS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV CASC ECON EAID SENV ID
SUBJECT: DISASTER DECLARATION: EARTHQUAKE IN WEST SUMATERA,
INDONESIA

1. This is an action request. Please see paras 2 and 8.

2. Action request: Mission requests USAID Office of U.S. Foreign
Disaster Assistance (OFDA) consideration, approval and transmission
of fund cite to allow for the transfer of USD300, 000 to support
emergency response interventions for 7.6 earthquake in West Sumatra
Province on Wednesday, September 30, 2009. The Charge d'Affaires
has determined that the disaster is of sufficient magnitude that it
is beyond the capacity of local entities to respond adequately, the
Government of Indonesia desires and will accept U.S. Government
assistance, and it is in the best interest of the USG to respond.

3. An earthquake measuring 7.6 on the USGS Richter scale struck
West Sumatra Province, on Wednesday September 30, 2009 at 17:16
local time affecting Padang, the capital city of the province, and
the adjoining Pariaman district. The epicenter of the earthquake
was located at approximately 57 kilometers southwest of Pariaman.
Local media reported that tremors were felt in several cities in
Medan, Jambi, Pekanbaru, as well as in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
A second earthquake measuring 5.5 on Richter scale occurred at 17:38
hours; with the epicenter at approximately 22 kilometers southwest
of Pariaman. Due to the significant damage caused by the
earthquake, Charge d'Affaires Theodore Osius hereby declares a
disaster and requests USD50, 000 in disaster assistance authority
funds, as well as an additional USD250, 000 to support emergency
response interventions. The funding will be used to support
emergency distributions of non-food items.

4. All known American citizens in the area are accounted for. We
do not believe any American citizens were killed; however, one has
been injured in the earthquake and is receiving appropriate care.

5. Initial reports state that 200 people have died, hundreds are
injured and many are still trapped in collapsed buildings in the
affected areas. Access to the affected area is difficult due to
damage to roads and bridges from the quakes and subsequent
landslides.

6. President Yudhoyono and six GOI Ministers departed for West
Sumatra this morning to assess conditions and provide initial
response, including the Ministers of Social Affairs, Health, Public
Works, Home Affairs, Transportation and the Coordinating Minister
for People's Welfare.

7. USAID/Indonesia and USAID/OFDA Bangkok staff are maintaining
close coordination and expect to shortly make determinations on the
most appropriate emergency interventions to be supported with USG
assistance. USAID/Indonesia will assume responsibility for all
related contracting and the disbursement of the funds.

8. In light of the magnitude of the quake and the request for
assistance from the Government of Indonesia, the Embassy requests
that OFDA deploy a DART team to Indonesia to assist with the
response to the quake.

9. Post will request Washington to issue a condolence message
septel.

Osius

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