Honduras: GLIDE EQ-2009-000108-HND 28 May 2009 Earthquake
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Information bulletin n° 1 Honduras: GLIDE EQ-2009-000108-HND 28 May 2009 Earthquake This bulletin is being issued for information only. Early morning on 28 May 2009, the northern part of Honduras was struck by an earthquake of 7.1 magnitude. The epicentre was located between the island of Roatan and Guanaja on the Caribbean coast of Honduras. Honduran authorities indicate 17 people are injured and at least 4 people have died. The Honduran Red Cross (HRC) is carrying out A collapsed wall from a supermarket in El Progreso, damage and need assessments in the Yoro, Honduras. Source: La Prensa. affected areas. The Honduran Red Cross with the support of the International Federation has determined that external assistance is not required, and is therefore not seeking funding or other assistance from donors at this time. A second Information Bulletin will be published in the following day updating the status of the situation. <Click here to view the map of the affected area, or here for detailed contact information> The Situation On 28 May 2009, at 2:24 a.m. an earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale, struck the northern part of Honduras at a depth of 10km. The epicentre was located between the islands of Roatan and Guanaja, but it was felt throughout the country. In San Pedro Sula, electricity collapsed for a brief period. Preliminary reports from national authorities indicate that 17 persons were injured in the cities of La Lima and El Progreso. Roads have been blocked due to landslides and the road between La Ceiba and San Pedro Sula was cut off when a bridge connecting El Progreso and the major city of San Pedro Sula collapsed. The Honduran Red Cross local branch located in the northern city of La Lima in the department of Cortes, reports one house has collapsed, causing the death of a 15 year old male. Buildings including the Catarino Rivas Hospital in San Pedro Sula sustained cracks as well as many colonial buildings in the departments of Comayagua and Santa Barbara. Damage assessments are still ongoing. In addition, a tsunami alert was issued and later cancelled. The tremors caused people to leave their homes and working areas, and were felt as far as in Guatemala and El Salvador. The Permanent Commission of Contingencies (COPECO) is monitoring the situation in the most affected areas. The Secretary of Education has suspended classes in Roatan and in the department of Cortes. 2 A collapsed bridge (La Democracia) in El Progreso, Yoro, Honduras. Source: La Prensa Preliminary information from Roatan indicates that at least four public and private buildings sustained damages and one house collapsed. In addition, one person was wounded. In Puerto Cortes, Cortes (Atlantic region) four Damage and Needs Assessment (DANA) teams were activated through the municipal Emergency Operations Committee. The electricity and water systems have been interrupted and several electric posts collapsed and sustained damages. The sea level increased three to four feet, flooding several houses and the Social Security Hospital. The department vice-president reports that in La Ceiba (also located in the Atlantic region), COPECO is coordinating relief activities with the Honduran Red Cross. Damages reported in La Ceiba include one house and several buildings. In El Progreso, several infrastructural damages including roads and houses were reported. The electricity and water supply have been re-established in El Progreso. Red Cross and Red Crescent action The Honduran Red Cross activated a crisis team at 5 a.m. on 28 May which includes Red Cross volunteers, firemen and members from the municipal government in order to coordinate the disaster response. The HRC is coordinating with its local branches and local Honduran authorities. Currently, an International Federation representative present in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, has contacted the Partner National Societies present in the country (including the American Red Cross, the Canadian Red Cross, the Italian Red Cross, the Spanish Red Cross and the Swiss Red Cross) in order to coordinate the disaster response. The International Federation's Pan American Disaster Response Unit (PADRU) has been in constant contact with the Honduran Red Cross since the onset of the emergency. PADRU has contacted the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (Agencia Espanola de Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarrollo - AECID) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). PADRU is also coordinating with Partner National Societies in the country. Once damage assessments are completed, PADRU will coordinate the relief action with the National Society, if required. How we work All International Federation assistance seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO's) in Disaster Relief and is committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response (Sphere) in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable. 3 The International Federation’s activities are Global Agenda Goals: aligned with its Global Agenda, which sets out four · Reduce the numbers of deaths, injuries and impact broad goals to meet the Federation's mission to from disasters. "improve the lives of vulnerable people by · Reduce the number of deaths, illnesses and impact mobilizing the power of humanity". from diseases and public health emergencies. · Increase local community, civil society and Red Cross Red Crescent capacity to address the most urgent situations of vulnerability. · Reduce intolerance, discrimination and social exclusion and promote respect for diversity and human dignity. Contact information For further information specifically related to this operation please contact: · In Honduras: Maria Elisa Alvarado, Honduran Red Cross, General Director; phone: (504) 237 4558; email: [email protected]. · In Honduras: Nelson Aly, Humanitarian Principles and Values Regional Coordinator, Honduras, phone: (504) 220 4009; email: [email protected]. In Panama: Fabricio López, Representative of the Regional Representation Office for Central America and Mexico; email: [email protected]; phone: (507) 380 0250; fax: (507) 317 1304. · In Panama: Ariel Kestens, Head of the Pan American Disaster Response Unit, email: [email protected]; phone: (507) 316 1001; fax: (507) 316 1082. · In Panama: Omar Robinson, Acting Operations Coordinator Pan American Disaster Response Unit, email: [email protected]; phone: (507) 316 1001; fax: (507) 316 1082. · In Geneva: Pablo Medina, Operations Coordinator for the Americas; email: [email protected]; phone: (41) 22 730 4300. <Map below; click here to return to the title page> Information bulletin n°1 EQ-2009-000108-HND 28 May 2009 Honduras: Earthquake !C Earthquake measuring 7.1 RS, \! Belmopan 17 injured in the cities of La Lima and El Progreso, 1 death. ia ah B e D s la Is Colon Atlantida Cortes LALIMA ! ! ELPROGRESO Yoro Gracias A Dios Santa Barbara Copan Provinces Olancho Comayagua Lakes Ocotepeque Rivers Intibuca F Morazan \! Capitals Lempira ! Cities La Paz \!Tegucigalpa Paraiso !C Earthquakes \! San Salvador Valle Choluteca 0 25 50 km I! The maps used do not imply the expression of any opinion on the part of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies or National Societies concerning the legal status of a territory or of its authorities. Map data sources: ESRI, DEVINFO, International Federation, IB280509.mxd.