On September 12, 2007, an earthquake of magnitude 8.4 occurred at 6:21pm local time, (8:21pm [JST]). It was centered 30km underground, about 105km southwest Bengkulu region on Sumatra Island, Indonesia. It was followed by several earthquakes of M4.7 to 6.6 Magnitude in the region. The second largest earthquake of M7.9 occurred on the following day, September 13.
UNOCHA reports some 45,000 houses and 995 schools have been damaged in the aftermath of the strong earthquake (OCHA Situation Report No. 4 on September 17, 2007). In Bengkulu, the southwest coast of Sumatra, it reports that 7,042 houses were completely destroyed while 18,283 others were partially destroyed (“Satkorlak penanggulangan Bencana”, September 16, 2007 ; http://www.satkornaspb.go.id). Bengkulu was also hit by a big earthquake of M 7.9 in 2000, leaving one hundred people dead, 2,800 others injured, and around 40,000 buildings were damaged.
By the great fear of earthquake and tsunami learned as a result of the strong earthquake in December 2004, people rushed out and fled to the further inland when they felt the tremors. Power blackout and telephone line failure, which cut off communications, made it difficult to collect information in the devastated areas. The first earthquake was felt at least in four of the surrounding countries, and also, the tremors were reported at a skyscraper in a city located about 1,900km off the hypocenter.
According to Mr. Suhardjono, a meteorologist in Bengkulu, about 20minutes after the earthquake, a tsunami approximately 1m high was generated in Padang, Indonesia. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center also reported a small tsunami. However, the havoc was most likely caused by the tremors. Several collapses and fire casualties have been reported. Dr. Amin Kurnia says that at least 194 people were injured and they are necessitated to be treated outside because of the partially destroyed hospital with several cracks in its walls.
Tremors were felt in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia even it is located far off the center. People in Jakarta evacuated from their offices in high buildings. The trembles of high buildings were also reported in Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.
The president of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has called on the Indonesia National Disaster Management Coordinating Board to urgently increase personnel of the national police. Ministries concerned of Indonesian government, the UN agencies, and both International and domestic NGOs are currently providing such supports for emergency relief as distributing foods and tents among the victims.
Japan Platform is arranging for a thoroughgoing back up, dispatching our staffs to the disaster areas to support all the victims. http://w3.japanplatform.org/top.html
Reference: Associated Press, Indonesian Red Cross, ANTARA News, Jakarta Post, Kompas Cyber Media, UNOCHA, JPF