Salvationists in south-eastern Asia and coastal India were tragically and unexpectedly called into service after a massive earthquake in Indonesia triggered tsunami waves in the region and caused widespread damage and loss of life. The earthquake had a magnitude of 8.9, making it the biggest in 40 years and the fifth strongest since 1900.
While early reports are still sketchy, field assessments indicate that the Andaman-Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal, the State of Tamil Nadu and the island of Sri Lanka seem to be among the most severely affected areas, with estimates of over 3,000 people killed. In the city of Chennai 200 people are reported dead with hundreds more missing. Many other fishing villages and low-lying coastal communities were submerged by the waves. Initial reports of damage and deaths are certain to rise as more information continues to come in.
Salvation Army personnel are based in many of the devastated areas and from the outset Salvation Army teams have been in the forefront of offering aid and relief to the people caught up in this unexpected tragedy. Salvation Army volunteers have been feeding over 1,200 people in the Kanyakumari and Muttom areas and many Army facilities are being used to provide feeding sites and emergency shelter throughout the region. Teams of local Salvation Army assessment personnel have been dispatched to assist the government and other agencies in their efforts to determine what the most pressing needs of the affected communities are.
The coverage of this disaster is widespread and many countries have been impacted. The Emergency Services section at International Headquarters (IHQ) is coordinating the release of resources.
As the full extent of the disaster continues to be revealed, The Salvation Army is putting out an urgent appeal for funds with which to serve the victims of this devastating tragedy.
International Emergency Services Field Operations Officer
