World Vision Indonesia deals with two disasters in 24 hours

The death toll following a tsunami that hit several remote islands in Indonesia last week has risen to at least 435, officials say.

At least 10 villages on a series of islands known as the Pagai islands are thought to have been flattened by the tsunami, which was caused by a 7.7-magnitude earthquake late on Monday (25th October).

Officials say there were faults with an early warning system designed to alert locals to the 3m-high (10ft) wave and Indonesia's president is cutting short a trip to Vietnam to visit the islands and oversee the relief operation.

World Vision has worked in Indonesia for more than 50 years and was immediately able to dispatch emergency response staff,  who are currently dealing with two disasters in less than twenty-four hours: the volcano eruption at Mount Merapi in Java and the earthquake.

Natural disasters 

"Indonesia's location in the so-called 'Ring of Fire' means we're a prime target for natural disasters like these, but this is like déjà vu for our team," said World Vision's Jimmy Nadapdap in Indonesia.

"Nearly one year ago, we were responding to earthquakes in both West Java and West Sumatra. However, those disasters were one month apart. I can't remember the last time our staff was dealing with two disasters in less than twenty-four hours."

On the islands of Mentawai, West Sumatra eyewitnesses reported seeing a two-meter-high tsunami hit Sikakap Sub District and a five-meter-high tsunami on Pagai Selatan. Currently high tides and strong waves have so far kept the emergency response team from being able to access the affected villages on Mentawai Island.

"The situation is very unpredictable right now, and nature is not cooperating with us," said Ita Balanda, a programme officer with World Vision in Indonesia.

"We want to get help to children and their families as quickly as possible, but it's still too dangerous to reach the island by boat."

Volcano

Meanwhile, nearly 2,000 kilometers away in Java, a separate World Vision team has travelled to the scene of the volcano eruption at Mount Merapi. The team will conduct a rapid assessment to determine the needs of families who were evacuated from the area.

World Vision has pre-positioned emergency supplies like family kits (toothpaste, toothbrushes, clothing and blankets), baby kits (soap, nappies), tarpaulins and collapsible water containers to distribute following disasters like these.

In addition, the team in Java has dispatched a plane with 15,000 breathing masks to distribute to families in evacuation centres.

1 November 2010