Earthquake in Talaud Islands, North Sulawesi
FEBRUARY 18, 2009
(04/2009) Talaud Islands earthquake
Early in the morning of 12 February 2009, an earthquake measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale shook the Talaud Islands located to the north of Manado, the capital city of the North Sulawesi Province. The epicentre of the quake was at a depth of 10 km, 112km south east of Melonguane District.
ACT members immediately mobilised an assessment team which was able to reach the area on February 14th. According to initial field assessments Pangeran and Panulan villages in Kabaruan are the most affected in terms of level of damage, number of people injured and very limited access to the areas. Inhabitants suffering from minor injuries were treated at the nearest community health centre. Inhabitants of four other coastal villages, namely Sawant, Saru, Rais and Beo villages in the District of Talaud fled their homes to safer areas in the mountains and have been reluctant to return home as the first earthquake was followed by several aftershocks.
809 earthquake-affected households (3,466 individuals) in Salibabu Island and the villages of Pangeran, Panulan and Bulude, will be able to survive and begin to recover their normal lives, assisted by the provision of life sustaining food and non-food and medical assistance over a four week period.
