[TSUNAMI PHOTOS] [ARES PHOTOS] [NIAS PHOTOS] [NIAS UPDATE] [NORTH SUMATRA UPDATE] [WEST SUMATRA UPDATE]
REUTERS: Tsunami Quake Stronger Than Believed
The following information about quake is provided by the USGS National Earthquake Information Center.
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake IN NORTHERN SUMATRA, INDONESIA has occurred at: 4.80N 95.09E Depth 30km Tue Oct 11 15:05:39 2005 UTC. Or Time Near Epicenter Tue Oct 11 22:05:39 2005. Location with respect to nearby cities: 80 km (50 miles) SSW of Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia (pop 291,000).
A magnitude 5.6 earthquake IN NORTHERN SUMATRA, INDONESIA has occurred at: 2.09N 97.73E Depth 30km Sat Oct 8 04:30:45 2005 UTC. Or Time Near Epicenter Sat Oct 8 11:30:45 2005. Location with respect to nearby cities: 125 km (80 miles) WNW of Sibolga, Sumatra, Indonesia (pop 71,000). 195 km (120 miles) SSW of Medan, Sumatra, Indonesia.
A magnitude 5.7 earthquake IN NORTHERN SUMATRA, INDONESIA has occurred at: 5.23N 95.48E Depth 10km Wed Oct 5 08:46:41 2005 UTC. Or Time Near Epicenter Wed Oct 5 15:46:41 2005. Location with respect to nearby cities: 35 km (20 miles) SSE of Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia (pop 291,000). 385 km (240 miles) SE of Misha, Nicobar Islands, India.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake IN NORTHERN SUMATRA, INDONESIA has occurred at: 5.53N 94.35E Depth 30km Mon Oct 3 22:09:24 2005 UTC. Or Time Near Epicenter Tue Oct 4 05:09:24 2005. Location with respect to nearby cities: 110 km (65 miles) W of Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia (pop 291,000). 295 km (185 miles) SSE of Misha, Nicobar Islands, India.
A magnitude 5.6 earthquake IN THE NIAS REGION, INDONESIA has occurred at: 0.07N 97.61E Depth 30km Tue Sep 6 11:00:49 2005 UTC. Or Time Near Epicenter Tue Sep 6 18:00:49 2005. Location with respect to nearby cities: 225 km (140 miles) SW of Sibolga, Sumatra, 325 km (200 miles) WNW of Padang, Sumatra, Indonesia.
A magnitude 5.9 earthquake IN NORTHERN SUMATRA, INDONESIA has occurred at: 4.90N 95.06E Depth 41km Sat Sep 10 16:57:47 2005 UTC. Or Time Near Epicenter Sat Sep 10 23:57:47 2005. Location with respect to nearby cities: 75 km (45 miles) SSW of Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia (pop 291,000), 390 km (240 miles) SSE of Misha, Nicobar Islands, India.
A magnitude 5.7 earthquake OFF THE W COAST OF NORTHERN SUMATRA has occurred at: 2.84N 93.54E Depth 35km Fri Jul 29 20:33:40 2005 UTC. Or Time Near Epicenter Sat Jul 30 02:33:40 2005. Location: 355 km (220 miles) SW of Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia.
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake IN NORTHERN SUMATRA, INDONESIA has occurred at: 5.21N 94.49E Depth 42km Sat Jul 30 15:13:20 2005 UTC. Or Time Near Epicenter Sat Jul 30 22:13:20 2005. Location: 100 km (60 miles) WSW of Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia.
A magnitude 5.6 earthquake IN NORTHERN SUMATRA, INDONESIA has occurred at: 5.18N 94.76E Depth 40km Sat Jul 23 22:53:34 2005 UTC. Or Time Near Epicenter Sun Jul 24 05:53:34 2005. Location with respect to nearby cities: 75 km (45 miles) WSW of Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia (pop 291,000).
A magnitude 5.6 earthquake IN THE KEP. TANIMBAR REGION, INDONESIA has occurred at: 6.84S 131.36E Depth 10km Tue Jul 12 17:07:15 2005 UTC. Or Time Near Epicenter Wed Jul 13 02:07:15 2005. Location with respect to nearby cities: 125 km (80 miles) N of Saumlaki, Tanimbar Islands, Indonesia. 335 km (210 miles) WSW of Dobo, Aru Islands, Indonesia. 625 km (390 miles) N of DARWIN, Northern Territory, Australia.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake IN THE NIAS REGION, INDONESIA has occurred at: 1.32N 97.20E Depth 23km Mon Jul 11 14:36:10 2005 UTC. Or Time Near Epicenter Mon Jul 11 21:36:10 2005. Location with respect to nearby cities: 185 km (115 miles) WSW of Sibolga, Sumatra, Indonesia. 300 km (185 miles) SSW of Medan, Sumatra, Indonesia.
A magnitude 5.7 earthquake IN SULAWESI, INDONESIA has occurred at: 1.24S 119.83E Depth 10km Sat Jul 9 23:59:14 2005 UTC. Or Time Near Epicenter Sun Jul 10 07:59:14 2005. Location with respect to nearby cities: 40 km (25 miles) S of Palu, Sulawesi, Indonesia (pop 142,000). 335 km (205 miles) E of Balikpapan, Kalimantan, Indonesia. 435 km (270 miles) N of Ujung Pandang, Sulawesi, Indonesia.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake OFF THE W COAST OF NORTHERN SUMATRA has occurred at: 3.98N 93.37E Depth 10km Tue Jul 5 21:36:16 2005 UTC. Or Time Near Epicenter Wed Jul 6 03:36:16 2005. Located 275 km (170 miles) SW of Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia.
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake IN THE NIAS REGION, INDONESIA has occurred at: 1.90N 97.10E Depth 30km Tue Jul 5 01:52:04 2005 UTC. Or Time Near Epicenter Tue Jul 5 08:52:04 2005.
A magnitude 5.6 earthquake OFF THE W COAST OF NORTHERN SUMATRA has occurred at: 2.79N 94.16E Depth 30km Mon Jun 13 19:59:53 2005 UTC. Or Time Near Epicenter Tue Jun 14 01:59:53 2005. Location with respect to nearby cities: 325 km (205 miles) SSW of Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia. 505 km (315 miles) W of Medan, Sumatra, Indonesia.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake IN JAVA, INDONESIA has occurred at: 8.98S 112.21E Depth 60km Sat Jun 11 13:18:51 2005 UTC. Or Time Near Epicenter Sat Jun 11 20:18:51 2005. Location with respect to nearby cities: 125 km (80 miles) SSW of Malang, Java, Indonesia (pop 763,000). 195 km (120 miles) WSW of Jember, Java, Indonesia. 200 km (125 miles) SSW of Surabaya, Java, Indonesia.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake IN THE NIAS REGION, INDONESIA has occurred at: 1.81N 97.05E Depth 25km Fri Jun 10 17:42:41 2005 UTC. Or Time Near Epicenter Sat Jun 11 00:42:41 2005. Location with respect to nearby cities: 195 km (120 miles) W of Sibolga, Sumatra, Indonesia. 265 km (165 miles) SW of Medan, Sumatra, Indonesia.
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake IN SIMEULUE, INDONESIA has occurred at: 2.18N 96.69E Depth 28km Wed Jun 8 06:28:12 2005 UTC. Or Time Near Epicenter Wed Jun 8 13:28:12 2005. Location with respect to nearby cities: 240 km (150 miles) WNW of Sibolga, Sumatra, Indonesia. 265 km (165 miles) SW of Medan, Sumatra, Indonesia.
A magnitude 5.6 earthquake IN NORTHERN SUMATRA, INDONESIA has occurred at: 5.39N 94.75E Depth 30km Sat May 21 23:01:13 2005 UTC. Or Time Near Epicenter Sun May 22 06:01:13 2005. 65 km (40 miles) W of Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia (pop 291,000).
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake IN SIMEULUE, INDONESIA has occurred at: 2.00N 96.97E Depth 30km Thu May 19 01:54:53 2005 UTC. Or Time Near Epicenter Thu May 19 08:54:53 2005. Location with respect to nearby cities: 205 km (130 miles) W of Sibolga, Sumatra; 255 km (160 miles) SW of Medan, Sumatra.
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake OFF THE W COAST OF NORTHERN SUMATRA has occurred at: 5.59N 93.28E Depth 30km Wed May 18 11:37:33 2005 UTC. Or Time Near Epicenter Wed May 18 18:37:33 2005. 230 km (140 miles) W of Banda Aceh, Sumatra.
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake IN SOUTHWEST OF SUMATRA, INDONESIA has occurred at: 6.20S 103.13E Depth 30km Tue May 10 01:09:07 2005 UTC. Or Time Near Epicenter Tue May 10 08:09:07 2005. Location with respect to nearby cities: 250 km (155 miles) WSW of T.-Telukbetung, Sumatra, Indonesia. 285 km (175 miles) SSE of Bengkulu, Sumatra, Indonesia. 400 km (250 miles) W of JAKARTA, Java, Indonesia.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake IN NORTHERN SUMATRA, INDONESIA has occurred at: 5.10N 94.81E Depth 30km Mon May 9 01:30:52 2005 UTC. Or Time Near Epicenter Mon May 9 08:30:52 2005. Location: 75 km (45 miles) SW of Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia (pop 291,000).
NEWS UPDATE from Padang, 4/16/05.
Zuhrizal Oyong, YB5BO, reported from Padang that there were several tremors occurred from 4/15-16/2005 and felt by most people in the west part of West Sumatra Province. The 5th District of ORARI of West Sumatra Province has placed Verix Sonanda, YD5CF, in the Bureau of Meteorology and Geology (BMG) in Padang Panjang. So Sonanda can update those who monitor through VHF repeaters in West Sumatra with a real time geological report issued by the BMG. The ORARI-ARES members of the 5th District/West Sumatra have still been on alert mode.
THE ORARI-ARES OF WEST SUMATRA PROVINCE RESPONDED TO THE EARTHQUAKE LOCATED IN MOUNT TALANG
The ORARI (Organization of Amateur Radio for Indonesia) 5th District/West Sumatra Province executed the highest level of alert (Siaga-1) following the earthquake occurred at 03:05 local time Tuesday morning 4-12-2005 located in mount Talang near Solok city, West Sumatra. Zuhrizal Oyong, YB5BO, who is a coordinator of the ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) and a chief of the technical and operational unit of the ORARI's 5th District of West Sumatra Province reported it from the capital city of Padang. West Sumatra has several active volcanoes include mount Merapi and mount Singgalang near Bukittinggi city, mount Talang near Solok city, mount Tandikat near Pariaman city and mount Kerinci in southeastern region bordering with Jambi Province.
Some local sources believed that April 10 6.8 magnitude undersea quake located near Siberut island, Mentawai islands region, triggered the active volcano. No significant casualty reported from the area yet. Nevertheless, due to several small explosions that generated its flares, sparks and dust, some 23,000 residents around the volcano have to be evacuated to 24 refugee camps located in 7 sub-districts. On Tuesday afternoon, the explosions were getting slow down and finally over. Yusman Dato Rajo Alam, YC5DTR, who is a coordinator of the local ORARI-ARES reported it from YC5ZAH zulu station in Solok. Rajo Alam and his team setup the ARES command posts around mount Talang and Kembar Alahan Panjang lake by using a zulu station call: YB5ZAK.
Oyong said that all ORARI-ARES volunteers in the cities of Padang, Solok, Padang Panjang, Sawah Lunto, Pariaman, Bukittinggi, Payakumbuh, Batusangkar and Muaro, have been on standby alert mode since Tuesday morning. While the ARES's mobile units of Padang executed and coordinated by Oyong including Erwin Kahar, YC5FVE, Catrine M., YC5JYA, Husni Thamrin, YD5JAU, Mufidhi Surya, YD5DSF, Erwin Nazar, YD5JTP, and Syarif, YD5JYX, have been under operation mode since their prompt response to April 10 undersea quake in Mentawai region. They have been patrolling around Padang and its vicinity. In addition, Edrizal, YD5DFB, has also been under standby alert at his location in Labuan Bajau village, Sikabaluan, upper Siberut island.
The zulu stations that have been on alert mode include YB5ZA for ORARI's 5th district office, YB5ZAA and YB5ZBA for the local ORARI in Padang. They used 145.0MHz and 145.83MHz repeaters for Solok, 145.5MHz repeater for Padang, the 5th District's 146.26MHz (103.5PLT) repeater on mount Singgalang and 7065KHz HF frequency for their emergency traffic.
Acknowledgment: Zuhrizal Oyong, YB5BO, of ORARI-ARES in Padang, West Sumatra, for sharing the information used in this account.
THE ORARI-ARES OF WEST SUMATRA PROVINCE STANDBY ALERT AND MONITOR
Zuhrizal Oyong, YB5BO, who is an advance amateur class operator from West Sumatra Province, reported that following the 6.8 magnitude undersea quake located near Mentawai islands that strongly shook the region the ORARI-ARES of District 5/West Sumatra Province began standby at 04:00 local time on Monday 4-11-2005. Later since Monday morning several zulu stations of the ORARI local or city offices have also been on alert and standby monitor mode.
On Monday afternoon, Oyong who is a coordinator of ORARI-ARES of West Sumatra Province updated his report that since Monday morning an ARES mobile unit operated by Husni Thamrin, YD5JAU, and Mufidhi Surya, YD5DSF, from ARES of Padang capital city, has been patrolling along west coast of Padang. Their operation has been monitored by Chairul Hafanie, YC5CH, The chief of ORARI 5th District/West Sumatra Province, and Sofyan Sar, YB5BA, the chief of ORARI Padang office. The mobile unit did not find any casualty yet.
Meanwhile, from Labuan Bajau village, near Sikabaluan town, north side of Siberut island - Mentawai region, Erizal, YD5DFB, reported through ARES's emergency VHF frequency at 15:05 local time that so far there was no casualty found in North Siberut, Sipora island and other smaller islands in the region. Whereas, in South Siberut island a high school building was 40% damaged. Yet no human casualty found. Farther observation in Mentawai islands is still undergoing.
On Monday night, Oyong updated his report again. He said that there were three people have died in west of West Sumatra Province. One person has died after he got buried under sliding soil in Ngarai Sianok near Bukittinggi city. Two persons have died in Padang. When earthquake occurred one of the two was panic and got traffic accident before he died. Another one got a heart attack and then died. The ORARI-ARES volunteers of District 5/West Sumatra Province have still been on alert and standingby monitor until this Tuesday morning. The ORARI-ARES mobile unit of Padang is still patrolling along the beach side of Padang city.
BACKGROUND:
A magnitude 6.8 undersea quake in Mentawai islands region has occurred at: 1.62S 99.56E Depth 30km Sun Apr 10 10:29:13 2005 UTC Time. Or Time Near Epicenter Sun Apr 10 17:29:13 2005. Location with respect to nearby city: 110 km (70 miles) South West of Padang, the capitol city of West Sumatra Province, Indonesia. This quake has rocked Mentawai islands and West Sumatra Province. People in Padang felt very strong tremor. Since then many undersea quakes - at least ten quakes above 5.0 magnitude - occurred near by the 6.8 magnitude quake until Monday morning 4-11-2005. It has been reported that there was a few of smaller magnitude undersea quakes occurred near Mentawai islands until Tuesday early morning. Mentawai islands are located 225 km (200 miles) southeast of Nias island or 770 km (700 miles) southeast of Banda Aceh.
A week after Banyak island earthquake that destroyed Nias island, or a week before Mentawai islands earthquakes it was several earthquakes occurred near Batu island. Batu islands are located between Nias island and Mentawai islands. Moreover, before and after December 26 9.0 magnitude undersea quake generating a massive tsunami, Andaman islands and Nicobar islands in Burma microplate experienced quakes everyday. It is proven that Sunda/Java Trench - a line started from Burma microplate to southeastern regions off west coast of Sumatra island - becomes an unstable earth fracture.
Since day one after Indian Ocean tsunami, the Indonesian Amateur Radio Emergency Services has been under alert and standby mode. Many domestic and international radio emergency volunteers have already been deployed and assisted Aceh Province and North Sumatra Province, to provide a vital radio emergency communication to replace any conventional communication that has been damaged by the tsunami and undersea quakes.
A Ham Used The Satellite-Based Internet System In Nias Island.
After several days waiting in Banda Aceh for the U.N. flight heading for Nias, on Friday 05-08-2005, Earl Campbell, N8TV/YB6ZEC, has finally arrived and joined the ORARI-ARES's YB6ZAH command post in Gunung Sitoli, Nias island. Campbell who is a ham from New Mexico State and an International Red Cross volunteer used to join the post-tsunami relief effort in Banda Aceh.
From YB6ZAH station he successfully launched his first email to W. Purwinto, AB2QV, in New York State. It was the first satellite-based internet connection ever launched by a ham volunteer in Nias island since 8.7 magnitude under water earthquake severely damaged the infrastructure and some parts of the island. Campbell used his notebook PC connected wireless to the Internet through the hot spot provided by the Air Putih IT team - Imron, Okta and Rudi - based in Banda Aceh. The team, who deployed by their operating chief Anjar remained in Banda Aceh, has installed the V-Sat satellite-based internet system located in the Pendopo local government building. The IT team's station is located about 20 yards away from the ORARI-ARES command post's YB6ZAH zulu station. Campbell has spent the last three months with this wonderful IT team in Banda Aceh.
Since then he is capable to provide Internet communication world-wide to support the hamradio emergency activities in the island and its surrounding islands. The pictures of Campbell and Herman Rangkuti, YC6IQ, who is an ORARI-ARES member from Medan and an operator of YB6ZAH zulu station, taken digitally by Campbell are available at http://www.qsl.net/ab2qv/niasphotos.htm.
Two days before Campbell arrived in Nias, Mark Wolfe, N7YMW/YB6ZMW, arrived with USNS Mercy and USNS Niagara Falls anchored off shore Nias. Wolfe paid a visit to YB6ZAH zulu station to meet its operator, Rangkuti. The three hams, Rangkuti, Campbell and Wolfe, will always coordinate and support each other up to provide radio communication smoothly for the emergency services conducted by hams and non-hams in the region. They have contacted and will often contact other zulu stations for information and report exchange. What a nice cooperation among them in time of emergency.
Earthquake And Tsunami Hit Tabuyung Village, Madina Regency, North Sumatra Province.
Ady Susanto, YB6VK, who is a hamradio operator from North Sumatra Province, reported that the Indonesian Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ORARI-ARES) of District 6/Northern Sumatra received a late emergency call from Madina (Mandailing Natal) Regency, North Sumatra Province. [Many coffee drinkers in the world always remember Sumatra Mandailing coffee]. The ORARI-ARES deployed its member Syawaluddin Lubis, YC6ROD, to the disaster area to setup YB6ZAL zulu (emergency) station on 4-6-2005 using battery power - after learned that there was no electricity and public communication available in the remote area.
Since 4-6-2005 Lubis has been collecting the data of the casualties. On Thursday 4-7-2005 at 20:30 local time Lubis was just able to report from YB6ZAL station to the ORARI-ARES command post in Medan and other zulu stations through 145.260MHz VHF linked repeater in Northern Sumatra. Lubis reported that according to some local refugees their coastal village - Tabuyung, Batang Gadis Sub-District, Madina Regency, North Sumatra Province - swept by 18 feet (6 meters) high sea water that traveled about 50 miles per hour on Tuesday 3-29-2005 early morning following the earthquake. This tsunami was generated by 8.7 magnitude under water quake occurred on 3-28-2005 at 23:00 local time and located near Banyak islands that is between Nias island and Simeulue island off west coast of Sumatra island. This quake has also destroyed large parts of Nias island and its surrounding islands.
Lubis said that as a result of both the earthquake and the tsunami one villager has died, 411 families lost their houses, 30 families experienced severely damaged houses, and 71 families still have their houses undamaged. Moreover, 632 family refugees have been living in the tents on the Kennam company's property located about 4 miles away from Tabuyung village. The ORARI-ARES command post contacted the authorities and several disaster aid relief task forces in the region to save the survivors and recover the village.
The ARRL Letter, Vol. 24, No. 13, April 1, 2005: "AMATEUR RADIO LINKS EARTHQUAKE-STRICKEN ISLAND WITH OUTSIDE WORLD." And a report on the disaster in Nias island.
W.Purwinto, AB2QV.
DX Emergency Support
Syracuse, New York.
http://www.qsl.net/ab2qv/breakingnews.htm