March 7, 2007

Residents in West Sumatra, Indonesia, are in mourning today as they bury the dead following a pair of earthquakes that killed an estimated 72 persons on Tuesday (March 6). Officials believe that figure is likely to rise, as figures are reported from remote rural figures. It is believed that many people remain trapped under hundreds of collapsed buildings.

The pair of quakes -- one of 6.4 magnitude and another measuring 6.3 -- were centered about eight miles south-west of Batusangkar, West Sumatra and were felt as far away as Singapore and Malaysia.

The worst-hit areas were in and around Solok, where at least 19 persons died; Tanah Datar, where 16 persons died; and Padangpanjang, which was cut off because roads were covered with landslides.

Hundreds of people were injured, overwhelming local hospitals and health facilities. Many of survivors were being treated under temporary tents.

This follows another disaster: after five days of heavy rain -- in the midst of Indonesia's rainy season -- landslides hit Manggarai and Ruteng in Musa Tenggara Timur Province, about 900 miles east of Jakarta, on March 2. At least 40 persons were killed and 30 are still missing. Dozens of houses were destroyed and roads to the disaster site were cut off. Landslides are becoming increasingly common in Indonesia due to deforestation, humanitarian officials said.

RESPONSE: Church World Service will be providing relief items to those who survived the West Sumatra quake as part of a coordinated effort by Action by Churches Together (ACT) International members in Indonesia. Besides CWS, this includes Yayasan Tanggul Bencana Indonesia (YTBI) and Yakkum Emergency Unit (YEU). This joint effort will include medical assistance as well as distribution of relief items.

As for the landslides, CWS is working with YTBI and YEU, as well, on a joint effort that also includes relief assistance. In this response, CWS and other ACT members are working with the East Christian Testament Church (GMIT).

This is the fourth major response for CWS in as many weeks, with CWS and partners responding to flooding in Jakarta and storm damage in Yogyakarta, in central Java, the site of a May 2006 earthquake.

Further information on the situation and response in Indonesia is expected later this week.

Media Contacts: Lesley Crosson, CWS/New York, 212-870-2676; lcrosson@churchworldservice.org Jan Dragin (24/7), 781-925-1526; jdragin@gis.net

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