GENEVA, 28 May 2009--Members of ACT International in Honduras are mobilising to assess needs and respond if necessary to the early morning magnitude-7.1 earthquake, which struck off the coast of the Central American nation.

ACT members are currently beginning to assess the impact of the disaster in areas where they have operational presence. Once more information is known, and depending on the scale of the disaster, ACT members will determine how to best respond.

Claudia Herrera, a Honduras-based program officer with Christian Aid, reports that there is little information so far as communication lines were broken, and telephones and Internet connectivity are only just starting to function again.

"People from coastal towns and ports were alerted to evacuate in case of a tsunami risk", reports Carlos Cardenas, the Central America representative for Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. The tsunami threat has since been suspended by the authorities.

Reuters reports that the quake caused at least four deaths and that there is some damage in neighboring Guatemala.

Ms Herrera shared by telephone that there are some strong aftershocks and mudslides, and that people remain scared. She added that Honduras is not normally exposed to this kind of emergency and the infrastructure for an earthquake response is lacking.

The U.S. Geological Survey reports only one other recent and strong earthquake in Honduras, which was a magnitude-6.7 in July of 1999.

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Action by Churches Together (ACT) International is a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide.

Media contacts:
Tomm Kristiansen, Communications Officer (office: +41 22 791 6039 / mobile: +41 79 358 3171 / tkr@act-intl.org )

Sidney Traynham, Assistant Communications Officer (office: +41 22 791 6711 / mobile: +41 79 681 1868 / sjt@act-intl.org )