Media Reports on TSUNAMI of 8 September 2002
Compiled by Lori Dengler
Four killed in earthquake
Post Courier Sept 9, 2002
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
FOUR people are confirmed dead on Kairuru Island, off Wewak, East
Sepik Province following a series of earth tremors early yesterday
morning. The casualty list could be more, but provincial authorities
were late yesterday still awaiting reports from other outer islands
and coastal areas that were hit by tidal waves, as well as inland
areas affected by the tremors which registered 7.5 on the Richter
scale. Among the four confirmed dead were a mother and her child, who
were reportedly killed when their house collapsed on them while they
slept at Victoria Bay on Kairuru Island. The others were an elderly
woman, who was also killed when she was trapped in her home at Tabil
village, also on Kairuru Island, and another person. The earth
tremors and tidal waves also caused extensive damage to homes and
gardens in many of the affected island and inland villages. The Wewak
General Hospital also reported yesterday that 14 people were admitted
with injuries sustained in the disaster. This figure was at 10am
yesterday, and authorities said it could increase when the outer
islands and inland areas are reached. Reports from Wewak said the
islands of Kairuru, Musu and the Wallace and Tarue group of islands
were badly affected, while on the coast Boiken was struck hard. In
Wewak town, a number of houses were damaged, especially on Wewak
Hill, and power poles and the water pipes broken, affecting water and
power supplies to the town residents. In the hinterland, Maprik was
badly hit by the tremors, with reports of several people being
injured in falling houses and small land slips. The Catholic Mission
station manager on Kairuru Graham Lynch, said the islanders were
shaken awake at about 4.45 am yesterday by the massive quake. Mr
Lynch said while some of the villagers instinctively made for higher
ground before the waves hit, about 15 to 20 minutes later, most were
still asleep when they were hit. He said two waves, measuring
"several feet high" hit the sleeping villages along the coastal areas
and island. "It was still dark and not many people knew what was
happening," he said. He said the mission station was on the sheltered
side of the island, and it could be worse on the side facing the open
sea. A councillor from the island who visited several affected
villages, William Marain, said destruction to the villages were quite
extensive. He said the villagers on the island were still in shock
and were fearful that a bigger disaster could hit.
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Date: 9 Sept 2002
Papua New Guinea - Earthquake OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2002/0181
OCHA Situation Report No. 1 Papua New Guinea - Earthquake 9 September
2002
This situation report is based on information provided by sources in
Papua New Guinea (PNG) including the UNDP Office, the National Disaster
Management Office (NDMO), the University of PNG, and the International
Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies regional
delegation, through the OCHA Regional Disaster Response Adviser, based in
Suva.
Situation
1. A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 on the Richter Scale and
depth of 30 km struck the north coast of PNG at 1844 hours UTC on Sunday 8
September 2002 (local time: 0444 hours on Monday 9 September). The
epicentre was 3.2 degrees south, 142.9 degrees east; on the coastline one
third of the 280 km distance from Wewak, capital of East Sepik Province,
to Vanimo, capital of West Sepik, and 830 km northwest of Port Moresby. A
tsunami warning was issued for the Pacific from the Philippines in the
west, to Japan in the North, Marshall Islands in the east, and New
Caledonia in the south.
2. At present damage reports are sketchy, but according to the East Sepik
Provincial Disaster Coordinator, the earthquake killed 3 people and
injured an as yet unknown number in Wewak Township itself, which suffered
some structural damage due to the shaking rather than the effects of the
small tsunami the earthquake generated. This report is corroborated by the
Governor of the province, who has been in communication with the
provincial hospital, where the casualties were taken. The town's
electricity and water supplies have been disrupted, and one bridge was
damaged. 50 km west-southwest of Wewak and some 60 km from the epicentre,
at Maprik Station, the police post reported collapsed houses and burst
water tanks, but no landslides, flooding, or damage to the road.
3. Just over the provincial border in West Sepik Province, 7 traditional
dwellings built of bush materials collapsed in Suain village, very close
to the epicentre, but without causing any injuries. At Aitape village
further along the coast, scene of the devastating 1998 tsunami, villagers
reported a 1-1.5 m tsunami. The tsunami swept 10-15 m inland in some
places, damaging houses and swamping small boats in at least two villages,
but again no casualties were reported. The earthquake was also felt in
Vanimo, but the District Administrator has reported no major damage.
4. Notwithstanding the relatively light damage and casualties in these
first verbal reports, it is possible that more serious incidents have
occurred in other more remote areas, particularly further inland and in
the tiny Tarawai and Walis Islands adjacent to the epicentre. The toll of
casualties may therefore increase over the coming hours and days, as news
emerge from outlying locations in the provinces. Houses along the coast
may have been damaged by the tsunami, though traditional dwellings are
lightly-built and quite resilient to earthquakes. However, many domestic
water tanks may have been toppled by the shaking.
Response
5. A proper assessment of the situation is being planned at provincial
level under the authority of the Governor, supported by the NDMO in Port
Moresby, although the latter is already stretched managing the response to
the Pango Volcano eruption in Kimbe, West New Britain Province. The
Director-General of NDMO flew to Wewak at 1030 hours today. The NDMO
indicated that the provincial government should be able to produce an
initial report on the situation soon.
6. Bilateral donors, international agencies, the Red Cross and national
NGOs are on stand-by and ready to provide assistance if required, as
relevant information emerges from the affected locations.
7. OCHA Geneva has issued an alert for UNDAC members in the Pacific
region. The deployment of an UNDAC team is being discussed with the UN
Resident Coordinator and the national authorities. OCHA will prepare a
second situation report on this disaster as more information becomes
available.
8. This situation report, together with information on other ongoing
emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at
www.reliefweb.int
Source: Agence France-Presse (AFP) Date: 10 Sept 2002
Death toll rises to six, many reported homeless after PNG quake
PORT MORESBY, Sept 10 (AFP) - Authorities in Papua New Guinea were still
assessing the damage Tuesday from a powerful earthquake that struck its
northern coast 24 hours earlier, leaving up to six people dead and as many
as 3,000 homeless.
Disaster management officials met early Tuesday in Wewak, the capital of
East Sepik province near the quake's epicenter, to compile reports from
stricken villages along the coast and on six nearby islands.
An official with the Catholic church in Wewak said latest reports were
that six people had been killed when their houses collapsed under the
force of the magnitude 7.6 earthquake that struck before dawn on Monday.
The quake caused a small tidal wave which washed up to 15 meters (45
feet) inland, undermining the foundations of houses.
The church official, Herman Aabai, said incomplete reports indicated that
30-40 houses had been badly damaged or destroyed in and around Wewak and
another 60 on the outlying islands.
Wewak's main water supply remained cut off after being ruptured by the
quake, he told AFP by telephone.
An official with the Save the Children Fund, Yvonne Tawia, told Radio New
Zealand that up to 1,000 people in Wewak and another 2,000 on the islands
were without shelter following the quake.
But the National Disaster Management Office in the capital Port Moresby
said it was too early to estimate the number of homeless as information
was still coming in from more remote areas.
"We have no real figures yet on homeless or the numbers of homes directly
affected, I expect those will come in later today," said Martin Mose,
assistant director of the office.
He told AFP the number of homes destroyed by the quake was probably "well
under 100" and said the number of confirmed dead was three, with reports
that three other people may also have been killed.
Prime Minister Michael Somare, whose home in Wewak was damaged by the
quake, was overseeing the government's emergency response operation in the
area, officials said.
Local residents said two more aftershocks jolted the area overnight.
dm/mp AFP
Copyright (c) 2002 Agence France-Presse Received by NewsEdge Insight:
09/09/2002 21:44:05
Source: IFRC Date: 10 Sept 2002
Papua New Guinea: Earthquake Information Bulletin No. 01
The Situation
A powerful earthquake in Papua New Guinea (PNG) has killed three people
and caused widespread damage, latest reports indicate. The quake measured
7.5 on the Richter scale and struck Monday morning (local time), 9
September 2002. The epicentre was 100km off PNG's north coast.
ABC radio in Australia reported that in the town of Wewak, houses had
collapsed and the main water supply had ruptured. Electricity supplies
were also interrupted and a bridge was reported to be damaged. A small
tsunami resulted from the earthquake and seas rose one metre and flooded
up to 15 metres inland in some parts. Chris McKee from PNG Geological
Survey told ABC that the quake was one of the strongest for some time. Of
the three people killed, two are believed to have drowned when the tsunami
swamped houses in coastal areas
Catholic Church official Francis Kemaken told the news agency AFP that
the death and injury toll `would definitely increase' as reports come in
from four islands in the area. `They probably experienced extensive damage
to houses,' he said. At least two villages had been badly hit and a number
of boats lost.
PNG's director for the National Disaster Management Office reported 34
houses destroyed on Tarawai island and 10 on Walis island.
An undersea earthquake in 1998 caused a tsunami that struck the
neighbouring West Sepik province, killing more than 2,000 people.
Red Cross/Red Crescent Action
The Madang branch of the PNG Red Cross is the closest to the disaster
zone and it is continuing to monitor the situation. The Australian Red
Cross, New Zealand Red Cross and the Federation are all keeping a close
eye on developments and waiting to hear if the government and National
Society need any assistance in their response to the disaster. The
director of the National Disaster Management Office is currently
travelling to the earthquake zone to assess the situation.
For a full description of the National Society profile, see www.ifrc.org
For further details please contact
Caroline Dunn, Phone 4122 730 4257; email: dunn@ifrc.org Suzana
Jekic, Phone 4122 730353; Fax 4122 733 0395; email jekic@ifrc.org
Wewak schools closed
Port Moresby Post Courier Sept 11, 2002
ALL schools in Wewak were ordered closed and children sent home yesterday
following the earthquake that rocked the area early on Monday morning.
East Sepik provincial police commander chief superintendent Leo Kabilo
said yesterday: "All the schools in Wewak have been closed and all the
children sent home following the earthquake which destroyed many of the
infrastructure in and around town, including the town water supply." At
least four people were killed in the tremor which measured 7.5 on the
Richter scale. At Dagua, the Catholic health centre suffered some damage
to parts of its clinic building. "Boram hospital is also on the verge of
being closed due to water shortage," Supt Kabilo said. He said police are
keeping a close watch on property to prevent theft. East Sepik Bishop Tony
Burgess told the Post-Courier from Wewak yesterday that an emergency
meeting was held last night between the officials from the national
disaster and emergency services and the Government to assess the extent of
the damage. He confirmed seven houses were completely destroyed and 24
partially destroyed at Tarawai Island, 31 destroyed and 23 partially at
Big Mushu, nine completely and seven partially destroyed at Supabu. "I am
not able to confirm the exact number of houses damaged or destroyed until
a proper assessment is carried out by the officials from the national
disaster and emergency services, Bishop Burgess said. He said in the
Boikin area, five houses along the coast were destroyed and three at
Karawab village, while further along the coast another 13 houses were also
destroyed at Yuo village situated on the mainland. No reports of damage
were received from Dagua Health Centre. The provincial disaster office is
still carrying out inspections of the outlying islands and the hinterland
to asses what damage these areas suffered. Reports received so far state
that 24 people have been treated at the Wewak Hospital. The death toll
still remains at four. In Port Moresby, a scientist at the University of
Papua New Guinea says the earthquake and tsunami which struck on Monday
didnt cause much damage because it occurred in shallow water. Dr Augustine
Mungkaje, who comes from Tarawai Island which was affected by the
earthquake, said if the earthquake had occurred in water more than 1km in
depth, it would have created big waves like the Aitape tsunami, which
could have resulted in many more deaths and destruction. Dr Mungkaje said
information obtained from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii
stated that the strength of the earthquake was 7.4 on the Richter Scale.
He said the earthquakes epicentre was only 575 metres offshore of Sowom
village on the west coast of Wewak. He said the earthquake occurred at a
depth of 471m (less than half a kilometre), and was between the islands of
Wallis and Tarawai and the coastal villages of Sowom and Suain on the
mainland. "If the earthquake had occurred in waters deeper than one
kilometre, big tsunami waves would have caused devastation to the
neighbouring islands and coastal villages on the East Sepik mainland, Dr
Mungkaje said. Meanwhile, East Sepiks living in the National Capital
District have formed a group to raise funds and collect relief supplies
for earthquake victims from the islands and coastal areas of the province.
A meeting of an organising committee was held last night at Alphonse Kraus
residence at Kaubebe St, Boroko. Organisers yesterday appealed to "anyone
from the Wewak islands interested in assisting the committee speak to Mr
Krau on telephone number 323 9763, Ralph Saulep of Saulep Lawyers on 325
9811 and fax 325 9812 to gather more information or volunteer their help
for the appeal.
Wewak Post-Earthquake Risk Assessment
Report on a visit to Wewak 9-11 September 2002 by Professor Hugh Davies
UPNG
Background:
An earthquake of moment magnitude (MW) 7.4, Richter magnitude (MR) 7.7,
occurred at 4.45 am local time on 9 September 2002 at an epicentre about
70 km west-northwest of Wewak, at or near 3oS 143oE. The earthquake was
at relatively shallow depth (30 km depth reported by Port Moresby
Geophysical Observatory) and was strongly felt in the Wewak area. The
earthquake was of significantly greater magnitude than that which caused
a devastating tsunami at Aitape in 1998. A small tsunami was generated.
Details of this mission
At 11 am on 9 September this observer departed Port Moresby on aircraft
P2-PNG and arrived Wewak 12.40 pm. At 2.40 pm the observer departed
Wewak on helicopter P2-MTS in company of Minister Sir Peter Barter,
Governor, East Sepik, Mr Arthur Somare, and a TV cameraman representing
RTA and EM TV. The party returned to Wewak at about 5.30 pm.
On 10 September the observer visited sites along the coast west of
Wewak, by road and foot, in the company of Governor East Sepik Province,
AAP journalist Jim Baynes, and driver.
On 11 September the observer visited the Murik people's settlement at
Namba 2 Pasis in Wewak, and returned to Port Moresby on P2-PNG, arriving
2 pm.
Objectives of mission:
1. To ascertain whether any people are at risk of further damage or
injury following on from the earthquake of 9.9.02.
2. To talk with people, answer questions, and, as far as possible,
reassure them so that the element of panic following the earthquake and
tsunami is minimized.
Please note that this is not a damage assessment report.
Method:
1. Aerial inspection of selected localities, looking for indications of
unstable ground or slopes that might fail, and so might threaten
villages or houses.
2. Visits to as many locations as possible, in the time available, to
make on-the-ground inspections of possible hazardous sites, and talk
with people.
3. Record details of damage, of earth movements and of tsunami wave
run-up heights in as many places as possible, in the time available.
Localities inspected from the air (helicopter P2-MTS):
1. Mussu Island western end and part of centre
2. Kairiru island all coasts
3. Yuo and Keresau Islands
4. Walis and Tarawai Islands
5. Mainland coastline from Dagua east to Wewak
Localities inspected on the ground:
1. Sup village on Mussu
2. St Xavier College on Kairiru
3. Koragur (or Korgur) village on north coast of Kairiru
4. Yuo on south coast of Yuo Island
5. Tarawai on west coast of Tarawai Island
6. Walis on south coast of Walis Island
7. Boiken Baja near Boiken on mainland
8. But Mission on mainland
9. Kauk village on mainland
10. Dagua Mission on mainland
11. Kwabun village, east of Boiken
12. Katio hamlet on Hawain River
13. Ubidnim village (one of the Yuo villages) at mouth of Hawain River
14. Namba 2 Pasis (Murik people settlement) on Wewak peninsula
15. Coast Highway from Wewak to Kauk turn-off (past But)
Findings
1. No people were found to be at risk of further damage or injury
arising from the earthquake and tsunami.
2. Where unstable conditions were recognized, for example at Koragur
village, people had already taken appropriate action. At Koragur, the
coastal cliff had become unstable and people already had marked off the
unstable ground and had made plans to relocate houses that were at risk.
3. There appeared to have been uplift of about 30 cm along parts of the
wave-cut platform and reefs along the coast of Kairiru, Mussu and
Tarawai Islands. This was noteworthy but presented no risk to people.
Upward or downward movement of the earth's crust at the time of a strong
earthquake is a relatively common phenomenon. The uplift needs to be
checked again to ensure it was not a temporary effect.
4. Cracks developed in the ground on the beachfront at Kauk, and in and
near Ubidnim village. At these and other locations, the subsurface
sediments had liquefied and had emerged up the cracks and in some cases
squirted into the air. Liquefaction of subsurface sediments at the time
of a strong earthquake is a common phenomenon.
5. A crack that is reportedly causing concern to people on Keresau
Island was not inspected, but should be inspected by a geologist. It is
likely that it will prove to be similar to those seen at Kauk and
Ubidnim.
6. The tsunami developed within minutes of the earthquake.
7. Tsunami run-up height (the maximum height reached by the tsunami wave
as it came ashore) was in most places less than a metre, but was 1.5 m
at Kauk, and reportedly 3-4 m in the bay immediately east of the point
at Boiken (location not visited by this observer). Other observations of
run-up height are being tabulated and will be reported separately.
8. The level of tsunami awareness in the coastal villages is high.
People knew of the danger of a tsunami following the strongly felt
earthquake, and moved inland. After the event, some islands people had
left the islands for the same reason.
9. Almost all of the visible damage was caused by the earthquake, and
not by the tsunami. Typical damage was for bush-material houses to have
collapsed or to have tilted or twisted, and for tanks and water
reticulation systems to have been broken or disrupted.
10. Shallow water wells in some coastal villages became filled with
sand, due to the liquefaction and movement of subsurface sediments.
11. In most of the villages visited, about 10 percent of houses had
collapsed and a further 20-30 percent were damaged. The damage was not
greater in the western villages, such as Kauk, as might have been
expected in view of the location of the epicentre on or close to
longitude 143oE.
12. Most or all deaths and injuries were caused by the collapse of
houses, or as people escaped from houses.
13. Damage caused directly by the tsunami was reported in the bay
immediately east of the point at Boiken; on the southwest coast of
Mussu; and in Victoria Bay on Kairiru. None of these sites was visited
by this observer.
14. People from coastal villages and some of the islands have retreated
inland for fear of a tsunami. The people should be encouraged to return
to their villages because the risk of a tsunami developing is no greater
than it was in the past. However, they should be encouraged to remain
alert, as in the past, and to move inland in the event of any strongly
felt earthquake.
Conclusions:
1. No new risks or hazards
The inspection carried out on 9-11 September indicated that in the
aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami no new risks or hazards are
threatening the population.
2. Further inspection
However, not all sites were visited and it is desirable that a further
inspection be made as soon as conveniently possible.
3. Resume normal life
People who have voluntarily evacuated from the coast or islands should
be encouraged to return to their villages and resume normal life.
4. Assistance needed
Some people in most villages are temporarily without shelter, or have
houses that need repair. In many villages water supplies have been
disrupted. The people need assistance with temporary cover (tent flies),
building materials, water containers and restoration of water supply
reticulation systems, tanks and wells.