Earthquakes

Citation

(2001), "Earthquakes", Disaster Prevention and Management, Vol. 10 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/dpm.2001.07310cac.004

Earthquakes

Earthquakes

6 June 2000 – Bengkulu, Indonesia

A powerful earthquake and dozens of aftershocks which ripped through Indonesia's Sumatra island have killed up to 94 people and left more than 500 injured, local media and officials said today. Officials said rescue teams were trying to push into remote parts of Bengkulu province, the worst-hit area, but were hampered by bad weather, severed communications and the closure of the region's airport. Local newspaper Harian Semarak said that 94 people had been killed across the province, home to 1.4 million people. Police have only given figures for Bengkulu town, where the confirmed death toll was 58 people, raising fears of greater casualties from Sunday night's (June 4) earthquake. The quake measured 7.9 on the Richter scale and aftershocks were still rippling through the province today. Many residents spent last night under makeshift tents outside their damaged homes, fearful tremors would cause more damage. The Antara news agency said more than 500 people had been injured, half of them seriously. Doctors in Bengkulu town, the provincial capital, were struggling with a shortage of beds, medicine and blood and were treating victims in hospital parking lots. Surjadi Soedirja, co-ordinating minister for political and security affairs, said Indonesia needed international assistance. Red Cross officials in Jakarta said they could not mobilise resources nationally until instructed by the government. The local Red Cross in Bengkulu has been active in rescue efforts. The earthquake, one of the largest recorded in the world during the past decade, had sparked fears of a tsunami along Bengkulu's coast. Police were worried about looting in Bengkulu town, and overnight sent extra officers on patrol. The earthquake toppled buildings, cut water supplies and was felt as far away as Jakarta and Singapore. It also damaged the provincial governor's office and the local parliament. Officials said 90 per cent of houses on Enggano island, which lies close to the earthquake's epicentre and is home to 1,500 people, had been flattened. Telephone lines to Enggano and other remote parts of the province were cut. One official said two naval vessels would try to reach Enggano. Local media said the province would face a hefty damages bill, although no preliminary estimates have been released.

6 June 2000 – Indonesian rescuers today struggled to reach victims of a powerful earthquake that has killed more than 100 people and injured hundreds on Sumatra island. Police said they feared the death toll would rise because of the difficulty contacting remote areas of Bengkulu province on Sumatra's west coast, the worst affected region from Sunday night's (June 4) earthquake. "We still expect the death toll to climb higher," Police Sergeant Edy Somes said. "The quake caused several landslides in the south of the province and it is tough for rescuers to reach that area because some roads have been blocked by tonnes of earth." Officials in Jakarta said preliminary reports estimated damage at 50 billion rupiah ($5.88 million). Muslimin, the deputy editor at Bengkulu's only daily newspaper, Harian Semarak, said a compilation of reports from across the province showed 106 people had died. Bad weather severing communications, closed Bengkulu airport and has also hampered rescue efforts. Neighbouring Australia said today it would provide A$500,000 in emergency aid and send two emergency experts. The earthquake, one of the largest recorded in the world during the past decade, had sparked fears of a tsunami along Bengkulu's coast. Police were also worried about looting in Bengkulu town, and overnight sent extra officers on patrol. "We have deployed more police to guard destroyed houses. There are fears those houses might be looted," Sergeant Chandra Lutfi said. Local media have said the province would face a hefty damage bill, although no preliminary estimates have been released. Bengkulu province is relatively lightly populated by Indonesian standards. More than 260,000 people live in Bengkulu town. While Sumatra is a vital source of commodities such as palm oil, coffee and rubber, Bengkulu province plays only a limited role in such trade.

8 June 2000 – A powerful aftershock measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale shook Indonesia's quake-hit Bengkulu province early today, sending frightened residents running into the streets. The Antara news agency said the tremor hit at around 06.45 hrs and lasted for 15 minutes, although it was unclear if the fresh aftershock had caused any casualties or damage. Hundreds of aftershocks have followed last Sunday night's mammoth earthquake off the west coast of Sumatra island, that measured 7.9 on the Richter scale. Hospital officials and local media have said around 120 people were killed by that quake, with some 1,300 injured. Thousands of homes and other buildings have been destroyed. Since Sunday's quake, many residents in Bengkulu town, the provincial capital, have slept in makeshift tents fearing aftershocks would cause more damage. But heavy rain has also forced many back into their damaged homes.