Update: Emergencies in the Asia Pacific

The end of September, early October 2009 saw calamity across the Asia Pacific. Earthquakes, tsunamis and floods wreaked disaster across Indonesia, the Philippines, Samoa and Tonga, and Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. More than a thousand lives were lost. Thousands more are homeless and millions have been affected. World Vision provided relief assistance to the affected communities.

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Date Published	Latest Updates
4 October 2010	Images: Situational Overview & World Vision's Response
8 October 2009	Laos: Relief efforts stepped up as World Vision's emergency response continues
4 October 2009	Laos: Relief distribution to start for 3,500 people in hard-hit Nong District
4 October 2009	Vietnam: World Vision aiming to reach 40,000 typhoon-affected families
3 October 2009	Laos: Relief distribution underway following Typhoon Ketsana
3 October 2009	Vietnam: Relief goods reach Typhoon-hit families

Situational overview and World Vision's response

Indonesia:

On 30 September 2009, an earthquake struck off the west coast of Sumatra, measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale. The epicentre was 33km from the town of Padang where wide-scale destruction is being reported.

A second quake hit the area again on 1 October. At least 900 people have died and there are grave fears for hundreds of people who are still missing.

Read more about the earthquake in Sumatra.

The Philippines:

Typhoon Ketsana hit the Philippines on 26 September, 2009, affecting 4.9 million people. On 3 October, Typhoon Parma hit the country, adding to the destruction. More than 1,000 people were killed. Some 185,000 homes were destroyed and US$380 million in damages caused by the typhoons.

Read more about the typhoons in the Philippines.

Samoa:

The first earthquake, measuring 8.0 in magnitude, struck the Pacific near American Samoa, triggering towering tsunami waves that gushed over the island on 30 September. Just a day later, a second earthquake hit, measuring 5.5 in magnitude, flattening at least 20 villages in Samoa and nearby American Samoa.

The death toll in Samoa now stands at 135. 8 people are still missing and 20 villages in Samoa have been completely destroyed. It is estimated that 3,500 people are now displaced in Samoa.

Read more about the earthquakes and tsunami in Samoa.

Tonga:

Relief efforts in Tonga were focussed on the island of Niuatoputapu, following the earthquake that struck off Tonga on 2 October.

The US Geographical Survey said a 5.1-magnitude quake hit 165km north-north-east of Hihofo, Tonga. No tsunami alerts were issued.

Vietnam:

Typhoon Ketsana lashed Vietnam’s central and central highland provinces on 29 September, 2009. Some 162 people died, 14 were missing and 616 people were injured. Some 600,000 people were evacuated to safer areas. World Vision evacuated approximately 3,000 families from project areas to safer places, including schools. World Vision reached 40,000 typhoon-affected families with emergency aid.

Torrential rains caused serious floods and landslides, blocking many roads to the provinces. Homes and crops were destroyed.

For more details on the response, including Disaster Risk Reduction activities, click here

For the full report ‘Typhoon Ketsana: One Year Anniversary’, click here

Laos:

World Vision’s relief team has completed distribution of relief goods to 2,755 families in Sepone. Work is now underway to coordinate the rehabilitation process.

Cambodia:

Cambodia was also affected by Typhoon Ketsana. World Vision is monitoring the situation and developing response plans to activate where necessary.

Find out more

World Vision is keeping track of updates and emergency relief progress in Indonesia and the Philippines and Samoa.

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