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Church World Service
Emergency Response Program
Situation Report:
Indonesia Earthquake
March 28, 2005
SITUATION: An 8.2 magnitude earthquake - a massive aftershock of the devastating quake that triggered the December 26, 2004, tsunami that left 300,000 dead or missing across Southern Asia -- has killed dozens of people and destroyed hundreds of buildings, according to initial reports, in the main town on Indonesia's Nias Island, a renowned surfing spot off the west coast of Sumatra.
Although various government agencies in the region issued tsunami warnings, the latest earthquake apparently did not generate one. In the immediate aftermath of the quake, however, tens of thousands of people fled their homes for higher ground in northern and western Sumatra and officials in Thailand, Malaysia, India, and Sri Lanka issued tsunami warnings for islands and mainland coastal areas.
The quake was felt in Malaysia - some 300 miles from the epicenter 56 miles south of Simeulu Island off Sumatra's western coast and just north of Nias, In addition the deaths and damages on Nias, Church World Service (CWS) staff reported electricity cut off in Banda Aceh and frightened people fleeing their homes.
RESPONSE: CWS Emergency Response Program staff has been in contact with personnel throughout the region. Although CWS staff at Meulaboh - the closest CWS base to the quake's epicenter -- evacuated to a U.N. camp at Aceh which is on higher ground, all personnel there and at Banda Aceh and Medan are safe. In the morning, they will begin assessments as the basis for subsequent action.
Updates to this situation will be provided, including a possible expanded CWS Tsunami Recovery appeal that will address additional needs related to this earthquake.
Contributions may also be made online by credit card or by calling: (800) 297-1516, ext. 222.