China-Taiwan: Earthquake [OCHA-05: 23-Sep-99]
China-Taiwan: Earthquake [OCHA-05: 23-Sep-99]
China - Earthquake
OCHA Situation Report No. 5
23 September 1999
General Situation
1. According to the latest information obtained, the 7.6 magnitude
earthquake of 21 September, with the epicentre close to Taichung, caused
the following casualties (as of 23 September, 09.00 am GMT, 05.00 pm local
time): 2,106 dead, 7,821 injured, 634 people listed as missing or buried
under collapsed buildings, and 2,207 people listed as stranded in remote
areas.
2. Nantou is one of the worst affected counties with 846 dead, 153
missing, 1,889 injured, and about 300 trapped under collapsed structures,
mainly in Puli. The dam of Sun Moon Lake south of Puli has been damaged.
To prevent any further damage or threat to the population, water has been
released. Two areas in the mountains east of Puli, Fushih and Jenai, with
about 25,000 inhabitants, still need to be assessed. The major problem is
access, currently feasible only by helicopters.
3. Search and rescue operations are continuing but the hope of finding
survivors is dwindling. All necessary measures have been taken for
providing relief assistance to the affected population. Operations are
efficiently coordinated through emergency response centres established in
Taipei, Nantou, Changhua, and Taichung. Together with NGOs, the Red Cross
is assisting in the general relief efforts. The field team from the
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies(IFRC)/
Japanese Red Cross has reached the worst hit area and begun an assessment
in Nantou and Taichung counties, specifically in the towns of Puli and
Chung Liao.
4. According to the local authorities and the Red Cross, there is an
acute and urgent need for the provision of clean water as water shortage
is causing serious concern. Generators, tents and communications support
are also reported to be required.
Update on International Search and Rescue Teams
5. Two UNDAC team members are working in Taipei at the Emergency Response
Centre and act as liaison officers and as focal point for international
SAR teams (reception/departure centre). The overall coordination of SAR
teams and site allocation is directed from this Centre, with assistance
from the UNDAC team members based there. International Search and Rescue
Teams are invited to make contact with the UNDAC team members at the
Emergency Response Centre. The contact numbers are as follows:
- Emergency Response Centre
Tel. No. + 886 2 23882119
Fax No. + 886 2 23895447
- UNDAC team member Mr. Nils AndrAasson,
mobile phone no. + 46 70 575 59 09
- UNDAC team member Mr. Simo Wecksten,
mobile phone no. +358 40 50 60 536.
6. The rest of the UNDAC team proceeded today to the counties of Nantou,
Changhua and Yunlin and made contact with the emergency response centres
and with several Search and Rescue Teams operational in these counties
(the Czech team in Nantou, the Turkish AKUT team in Changhua, the US team
in Yunlin and the joint Swiss/Austrian/German Team in Tali). The UNDAC
team also exchanged information with the IFRC Delegate of the
IFRC/Japanese Red Cross team. The UNDAC team is currently in Taichung and
can be contacted at the following mobile phone numbers + 41 79 477 0812 /
+ 41 79 477 08 13. The Australian Government will provide the UNDAC team
with five technical advisors to assist with the coordination of the search
and rescue effort.
7. According to the latest updates, 18 Search and Rescue (SAR)/medical
teams, comprising a total of 560 experts, have been dispatched from 16
countries to assist in the relief effort: Japan, Singapore, Russian
Federation, Turkey, Republic of Korea, UK, USA, Czech Republic, Thailand,
Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, France, Australia and Canada.
Details are provided below.
- The Japanese Disaster Relief (JDR) Team totalling 135 SAR
personnel with 19 search dogs, and a 10-person medical team
has been restructured into two groups and is working in
Puli (Nantou County).
- The Singapore Civil Defence Force Overseas Contingent
consists of 39 SAR personnel, including 4 dogs with
handlers, Medical Team, Rescue Team and Services Team. The
Team is working in Fenyuan.
- The EMERCOM of Russia Team consists of 73 rescue personnel,
4 search dogs, 3 vehicles and specialized equipment to
assist the population and is working in Tungshih.
- The German Association of Rescue Dogs Team of 11 SAR
experts with 8 search dogs has been working in Chungliao
(Nantou County).
- The USAID/OFDA DART Team and Search and Rescue Team 1 (from
Fairfax County, Virginia) totals 93 experts, with
specialized equipment. They are working in Touliou (Yunlin
County).
- The Turkish Civil Defence Team of 20 SAR experts plus 1
search dog is working in Changhua.
- The AKUT Volunteer Team from Turkey is made up of 17 SAR
experts with light equipment and is working in Yuanlin
(Changhua County).
- The fully equipped Korean National 119 Rescue Services Team
is composed of 16 rescue experts and has been working in
Tsaotun (Nantou County).
- Czech Republic Team of 6 SAR experts with 5 search dogs has
been working in Puli (Nantou County).
- A 9-person Thai Medical Team arrived in Taipei on 22
September and is working in Nantou.
- Canada has sent two experts who are assigned to Nantou.
- The Swiss, German and Austrian Joint SAR Team with 77 SAR
specialists is working in Tali. The Swiss Disaster Relief
component is 42 SAR experts with 9 dogs, the Austrian
AFDRU component is 10 SAR experts, the German THW component
is 25 SAR specialists. The Team is carrying 16 tons of
search and rescue equipment.
- A six-person Team from RAPID UK, together with search
equipment is working Fengyuan (Taichung County). The RAPID
UK Team was scheduled to link up with a 7-person RAPID
Turkey team.
- Two Spanish teams (28 persons and 8 dogs) were in Chushan,
planning to proceed to Puli. One of the teams is a RAPID
Spain Team of 9 persons (plus 6 search dogs).
- A French Securite Civile DICA Team has departed for Taipei
with an ETA of 01.00 local time on 24 September. The
30-person Team is made up of 2 search and rescue teams with
3 search dogs, 2 medical doctors and 2 nurses. The Team is
carrying 6 tons of specialized SAR equipment.
8. The European Commission set aside 500,000 Euro (approx. USD 526,000)
to assist the earthquake victims. The funds may be made available for
humanitarian aid upon request(s) from IFRC and/or non-governmental
organizations.
9. OCHA has established a discussion board (Webboard) on the Internet for
rapid information exchange (contact data, contributions, etc.) between
involved governments and organizations during the response operation. The
Webboard can be accessed at http://wwwp.itu.int:8080/~fcsu. A login name
and user password can be requested at DRB/OCHA Geneva by e-mail
(petert@un.org).
10. This situation report and further information on ongoing emergencies
are also available on the OCHA Internet Website at
http://www.reliefweb.int
Telephone number: +41-22-917 12 34
In case of emergency: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10
Desk Officers: Ms. S. Metzner-Strack/Ms. M. Kondo, OCHA
Disaster Response Branch, direct Tel. +41-22-917 21 44/1997
Press contact: Ms. E. Ponomareva, direct Tel. +41-22-917 23 36
Telex: 414242 OCHA CH
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: info@dha.unicc.org
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