(26.01.08) On 23rd January, the Indonesian island of Nias was shaken by an earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter Scale, reported local workers. The epicentre was 12 kilometres away from Sirombu.

A seven-year old child died when the boarding school of the military command post collapsed, said Rev. Tuhoni Telaumbanua from the Nias Christian Protestant Church (BNKP). »There was panic when the rumour spread that a tsunami was coming. But the situation is under control. But we don’t know how many victims there are throughout the region.«

Initial information suggests that the church buildings of the BNKP, which are being financed by the United Evangelical Mission (UEM) as part of a reconstruction programme, have withstood the impact of the earthquake. The UEM is promoting a comprehensive church building programme. In the tsunami of December 2004 and earthquake of March 2005, large parts of the island were destroyed.