Translated material
Loud Ocean
Thousands of people could become victims of wildfire in Indonesia
More than 1,100 people were killed and several thousand were buried under rubble after a series of powerful earthquakes rocked the Indonesian island of Sumatra on Wednesday and Thursday. The first and most powerful earthquake occurred on Wednesday at 17.16 local time (14.16 Moscow time) 57 kilometers from the city of Pariaman (West Sumatra province). The epicenter of the earthquake, which was felt even in Malaysia and Singapore, was at a depth of 71 kilometers. About half an hour later, new tremors were recorded in Sumatra, the magnitude of which was 6.2. The epicenter of the tremors, which occurred at 17.38 local time (14.38 Moscow time), was located 22 kilometers southwest of Pariaman at a depth of 110 kilometers.The next day, several more earthquakes were recorded, the epicenter of which was located several tens of kilometers southeast of the city of Sunaipenuh (Jambi province). Several times authorities announced a tsunami threat, but then the warnings were canceled. However, a day before the tragedy in Sumatra, a tsunami, resulting from another powerful earthquake in the Samoan Islands, swept through the archipelago in a matter of hours and claimed the lives of at least 148 people, including seven people who died from the tsunami that hit the northern coast of the Pacific island State of Tonga. The dead included two Australians, two Koreans and two German citizens, as well as a two-year-old boy from the UK.
Many of the coastal Samoan settlements, as well as several tourist resorts, have been almost completely destroyed. The echoes of the disaster reached Japan, New Zealand and the Hawaiian Islands, but by that time the tsunami had weakened significantly; the maximum wave height, in particular in Japan, did not exceed 20 centimeters.
According to Indonesian media, the earthquakes across the country destroyed bridges and dozens of buildings, including schools, shopping centers and hotels. Telephone connections have been interrupted in many areas. In the city of Padang, the roof of the airport building collapsed and numerous fires broke out. There is panic among the population after the earthquake. Footage broadcast on local television showed destroyed residential buildings; adults and children who have run out of buildings crowd the streets, wrapped in blankets and sheets. People are leaving the coast in panic on foot, in cars and on motorcycles. Many residents are trying to put out fires caused by the earthquake on their own, as well as clearing the rubble of houses in search of relatives. In some places, electricity was cut off and water pipes burst, and some streets were under water. Many eyewitnesses say that assistance to the victims has not yet been provided.
According to rescuers, in addition to searching for survivors, it is necessary to prevent gas leaks from pipes that could have been damaged during tremors, as well as to prevent further subsidence of collapsed parts of buildings - many hundreds of people could be buried under them. "I believe that given the scale of the destruction, we will have thousands of casualties," Indonesian Health Minister Siti Fatillah Supari said. Russian citizens, according to the latest data, were not injured during the earthquake in Sumatra.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev sent a telegram of condolences to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. As the Kremlin press service reported, the telegram, in particular, notes: “In this difficult hour for Indonesia, Russia and the Russians are with you and the friendly Indonesian people,” Medvedev assured. “We will be ready to provide the necessary assistance in overcoming the consequences of the tragedy that befell you.” country of trouble."
In this regard, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations will send two planes with rescuers, doctors and an airmobile hospital to Indonesia. According to a representative of the information department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, two Il-76 of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations will fly from Moscow. The first plane will carry a task force consisting of 35 employees of the Centrospas detachment (rescuers, doctors, dog handlers), psychologists from the Center for Emergency Psychological Assistance and three all-terrain vehicles with rescue tools. “The second plane is planned to send the airmobile hospital of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation and an additional group of doctors from the Centrospas detachment,” noted a representative of the Ministry of Emergency Situations.
In addition, the European Union will send humanitarian aid to Indonesia totaling 3 million euros. "Survivors need everything from shelter to fresh water. Our funding will allow us to quickly reach thousands of people in dire situations and in need of support," said European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid Karel de Gucht.
Over the past few weeks, natural disasters have struck Southeast Asia one after another, claiming countless lives and destroying everything in their path. The authorities of the Philippines, Cambodia and Vietnam still cannot eliminate the consequences of Typhoon Ketsana, which caused severe floods and landslides in these countries. According to the latest data, the total number of victims of Typhoon Ketsana has exceeded 330 people. At the same time, 246 people died in the Philippines, 74 people in Vietnam, and 11 people in Cambodia.
Indonesia is located in the most seismically active zone of the planet and is part of the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire (a powerful tectonic fault). Every year, seismologists record 6-7 thousand earthquakes there with a magnitude greater than four. This area of the globe is home to the most active tectonic plates, one of which is moving at a speed of seven centimeters per year. Tsunami activity in the region has increased significantly recently. Since 1994, it has been recorded approximately every two years. In December 2004, a powerful tsunami killed hundreds of thousands of people in Indonesia.