On Wednesday 20th February 2008 Simeulue Island experience heavy earthquake at time 1508 hrs, duration of shake about 30 second and according radio room info the earthquake power is 7,5 magnitude. Almost all UN staff (WFP LSU, UN-Habitat) inside the office (Base) run ton the outside the building, after shake reduces to slow, we start to evacuated UN staff from office to high ground / hill and Simeulue radio room suggest to all staff to proceed to the evacuation point at Suak Buluh village (ex. WFP compound) and waiting next instruction until 1700 hrs

In the meantime I start to go around and observe ocean, go through the town and found people run away to the hill and traffic so crowded. And according radio room we start to to radio check for all UN staff, Alhamdulillah all Staff already in evacuation point, all property were safe. Electricity power not available from yesterday 1510 hrs until today morning and the latest update on 1000 hrs today that 3 people were died, 51 people injury and some building damage

Latest summary of the Earthquake that occured in Simeulue yesterday

• Strength: 7.4
• It occured outside Simeulue, at 15:31 hrs on Wednesday, Feb 20.
• Three local casualties due to heart failures in Sinabang
• No UN/NGO casualties; All UN equipment safe.
• A few buildings collapsed in Air Pinang Village

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