Irish Red Cross worker tells of panic after tremors

INDONESIA: Over the last few weeks minor tremors had been felt in the Banda Aceh region of Indonesia, which was devastated three months ago in the St Stephen's Day tsunami.

However, according to Irish aid worker, Viven Lusted, people in the area realised very quickly that what was happening late on Monday night was much more serious and were worried that they were about to experience a second disaster.

She said that, although the epicentre was several hundred kilometres away, near the island of Nias, the earthquake was felt clearly.

"The houses started shaking and the glass in the windows began rattling," Ms Lusted, an Irish Red Cross delegate working in the region, told The Irish Times last night.

She said there was some panic in the area following the tremors. Most people went outside and were unsure as to what would happen next.

Ms Lusted said that some people were fearful the earthquake would trigger a second tsunami, and there were reports that some had headed inland for higher ground.

For some people tension in the area was high as they waited to see if the waves would once again hit.

Ms Lusted, from Loughrea in Co Galway has been in Banda Aceh since February as co-ordinator and manager for health interventions, including emergency response units in tsunami-affected areas, for the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

She said that at first light yesterday morning the societies sent assessment units to the island of Nias. The initial indications were that there had been about 300 fatalities and more than 2,000 people displaced.

However, the assessment teams had had difficulties accessing some areas.

Ms Lusted said the initial assessment suggested that in some areas 30 per cent of buildings had been destroyed and that a further 30 per cent had suffered structural damage.

The Red Cross and Red Crescent would send another team to the area this morning with emergency supplies.

Meanwhile, the Irish Red Cross said yesterday that it had taken steps to provide immediate assistance in the event of a second tsunami.

Carmel Dunne, secretary general of the organisation, said: "We have emergency relief supplies available in these areas in case another tsunami hits Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

"This will enable the local communities to be in a better position to manage on this occasion.

"Our hearts and prayers go out to the people in theses areas. It must be terrifying for them to have to live through that fear again.

But as the Red Cross still has thousands of volunteers working in the areas, we will be able to provide immediate relief and assistance," she said.

Meanwhile, the executive director of Unicef Ireland, Maura Quinn, said that, following a rapid assessment carried out in the areas of Nias and Similue, the organisation was concerned at "providing safe water, which is urgent, as well as providing emergency medical supplies, which are vital in preventing the spread of disease".

Unicef has estimated that the number of deaths from the earthquake ranged from 1,000 to 2,000.