16.06.2011

Major earthquake hit Sumatra

The island of Sumatra was hit by a major earthquake on Tuesday, June 14th. Churches, schools and houses have been destroyed. The Batak Protestant Christian Church (HKBP) told the UEM headquarter about the damages. Here is the report of Rev. Ramlan Hutahaean, general secretary of the HKBP: Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,
warm greetings from Headquarters of HKBP. On 14^th June 2011, we experienced the earthquake (magnitude 5.5 and 5.7) in the morning at 7.08 and 10.15 O’clock. The tremor of the earthquake experienced by the people who stayed in Tarutung, Pahae, Simangumban, Siborongborong, Dolok Sanggul, Sipirok, Padang Sidempuan and Sibolga. But the very worst location are located in the southeast of Tarutung in some of villages; PANGALOAN, SARULLA, NAHORNOP MARSADA (Dusun Siriaria, Dusun Aek Buku, Dusun Parendean) and SIMANGUMBAN which are included in 3 congregations of HKBP (HKBP Pangaloan, HKBP Sarulla – Tor Dolok Nauli, HKBP Simangumban).

The situation of People and location

The magnitude of the earthquake has broken many buildings and public facilities. The situation we would like to share are:

Houses

Through all the information and data we get, there are more than of 220 of the people’s houses are not possible to be used anymore. But by the tremor magnitude, might be about 1000 houses damaged because most of those houses are semi-permanent, made from woods and bricks and this situation is more compounded since so many people who still live under of low-economy so not so many building used the good materials.  

Schools

There are 11 of schools need to rebuild since all of them are totally broke and unusable anymore. They are: Kindergarten of HKBP of Pangaloan, Elementary school, Junior High School, Vocational School, Senior High School, Islam School.

Church and Mosque

There are 6 churches are totally damaged and 4 of them are belongs to HKBP, 2 of them are Bethel and GKPI. 2 Mosques also damaged but they are still possible to be used. Especially the information regards of HKBP Pangaloan as the oldest church in this area, its pillars moved to the right side, ceiling fells down, the wall break. HKBP Simangumban which is still under construction also experiences the same case and so does too with HKBP Tor Dolok Nauli. 

Government facilities

Due to this earthquake, has made the electricity connection and the water accessibility switched off for 2 days after. The workshop of agriculture, local police station are also bit harmed.

Refugees

When the earthquake came, the refugees also harmed when they tried to escape from every house, fortunately, they get just minor injuries. There are more than 4000 refugees who live in some of tents which prepared by themselves and the local government. Most of them are women, children, baby and elderly. The refugees still cook by themselves in the big parts and stay out of house/building. We did conversation with them and most of them said how terrible and trauma of them by this big tremor.     

HKBP’s and government’s response to the Crisis

The leader and team of HKBP visited and greeted to all the refugees on 15 June 2011. When doing conversation due to their experiences about this earthquake to all the people we met, they need not only meal and medicine but also the materials to build their houses from government and every parts who take on eye to them in order to overcome their difficulties. On that day, HKBP gives the humanity aid to the people as the first emergency aid through Department of Diakonia and still continues for the next relief support. The Local government of North Tapanuli gives about IDR 150 million, the Coordinating Minister for Social Welfare – Agung Laksono gives IDR 700 million and from private company such Toba Pulp Lestari gives primary needy such as rice to all the refugees. We need your support in one prayer to all of the refugees and government and non government, churches to help them to overcome this unprecedented crisis. Thank you for your all kindness.