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A massive storm has moved into the Mentawai region making tsunami relief work even more difficult |
A massive storm has moved into the Mentawai region making tsunami relief work even more difficult – and life more miserable for the local villagers who are living in makeshift shelters.
The storm is forecast to last up to four days and is creating hazardous ocean conditions – for both the 150-kilometre crossing from Padang and access to the isolated villages.
The latest report from the government command post in Sikakap, the main town in the Southern Mentawai, says that 23,087 people are now either displaced from their homes or affected by the tsunami.
The death toll from the earthquake and tsunami is now more than 400 and it is rising with more than 300 people missing. A further 270 people are seriously injured.
The storm is making relief efforts even more difficult.
Today SurfAid’s Emergency Response team in Padang made the decision to hire the largest boat in the Mentawai fleet, the Indies Trader IV, so that we can continue operations in the worsening ocean conditions.
SurfAid founder Dr Dave Jenkins said that the New Zealand Government has agreed to fund both the boat and the emergency supplies on board. And Indies Trader owner Martin Daly has donated the Indies Trader III to the relief operation.
Weather-permitting, both boats are due to leave Padang tonight. The Indies Trader III will head to Sipora Island and the villages of Gobik and Bosua, near the surf break Bintangs. Both villages were severely hit by the tsunami, which was reported there as being six metres (20 feet) high. The villages lie at the bottom of the island, directly in the path of raging tsunami which struck in the darkness of Monday night at about 10pm – 20 minutes after the 7.7 magnitude undersea earthquake.
The Indies Trader IV will travel to the east coast of North Pagai and the southwest and southeastern tip of South Pagai where SurfAid teams will deliver emergency supplies to villages. On board are 2000 large tarpaulins, 3000 mosquito nets, 1000 hygiene kits, 1000 building kits, 1 tonne of rice, 24,000 packets of noodles, and medical supplies. The boat will pick up SurfAid staff from Sikakap, including medical teams.
SurfAid Command Post Liaison Manager Asrial, ASEAN Assessment Team (in red shirts) and SurfAid Program Director Dr Alan Rogerson, head off to the Mentawai Islands.
SurfAid founder Dr Dave Jenkins said today the organisation continues to escalate its response to the tsunami despite appalling and worsening conditions.
“The extremely isolated villages are surrounded by coral reefs with large Indian Ocean swells continuously washing over them. Behind the small villages is dense tropical jungle with no roads and no phones,” Dr Jenkins said.
“Yesterday our staff continued to deliver thousands of tarpaulins and other much needed materials in driving rain. We are spending US$50,000 a day and we will need well over $1.5 million dollars to complete this first phase mission.
“I am so proud of our staff and their round-the-clock commitment. The risks they are taking inspire all of us on.”
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