ACT Members Responding to Earthquake Aftermath in Indonesia
hundreds of homes, shops and offices have been damaged on the Indonesia island of Alor and at least 21 people have been killed.
Strong aftershocks continue on the eastern Indonesia island of Alor following a predawn earthquake of magnitude 7.3 that hit the island on Nov. 11, a global alliance reported Monday. According Action by Churches Together (ACT), local officials report that hundreds of homes, shops and offices have been damaged in the island’s main town of Kalabahi and at least 21 people have been killed.
Local staff of ACT members YAKKUM Emergency Unit (YEU) and CD Bethesda reports that the earthquake has mostly affected two districts – Mebung-Kalabahi and Maritaing. In Kalabahi district two villages have been badly affected, while in Maritaing district almost all villages have suffered heavy damages. Furthermore, Maritaing district is isolated due to the main road between Kalabahi and north-east Alor—where Maritaing is situated, being severed when the force of the quake opened a massive fissure in a mountain.
According to ACT, a local government official in north-east Alor reports that just about all buildings, both private and public, have collapsed and most of the areas 8,000 residents are sheltering in open spaces where tents have been set up to provide health, cooking and sleeping facilities.
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In Kalabahi the Government has already set up a public kitchen near the hospital and allocated 1,500 tons of rice as well as tents. YEU and CD Bethesda Alor have put together a medical team that is co-coordinating with the existing Social Services.
ACT member Yayasan Tanggul Benkana (YTB) is in contact with local member, GMIT, who report that in addition to the death toll of 21, 93 people have been seriously injured with 72 suffering light injuries. 532 buildings have been heavily damaged, 657 slightly damaged and 11 destroyed. The airport has suffered significant damage and there are currently no flights. ACT reports that GMIT will send a team from Kupang to Alor in the next few days to assist.
Meanwhile, ACT member Church World Service Indonesia is gathering further information through their staff in West Timor, and all ACT members in the region, YTB, YEU and Church World Service, will be keeping ACT and each other updated.
