Ecuador: Earthquake OCHA-02: 06-Aug-98

ECUADOR - EARTHQUAKE
OCHA - GENEVA SITUATION REPORT No. 2
6 AUGUST 1998


              GOVERNMENT APPEALS FOR INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE

SITUATION

1.  According to Ecuador's Geophysical Institute, 150 aftershocks have
been registered since the strong earthquake of 4 August 1998. 

2.  Following a request by the Vice-President of Ecuador, the UN Resident
Coordinator mobilized two disaster assessment experts to the affected
area, one of them an in-country member of the United Nations Disaster
Assessment and Coordination team (UNDAC). The team has contacted the local
authorities in the town of Bahia de Caraquez and has begun a damage
assessment to determine priority relief needs. 

3.  Preliminary findings indicate that the most affected community is the
town of Canoa, located 15 km north of Bahia de Caraquez. According to
local Civil Defense Officials, approximately 60% of existing buildings
have been severely affected.  Other communities affected are: Bricenio,
Jama, San Vicente, Bahia de Caraquez, Chone, Santa Ana, Portoviejo,
Montecristi, Manta, Charapoto, San Clemente and San Jacinto. 

4.  According to official sources, three persons have died and 40 have
been injured. 


Housing and roads

5.  Landslides and fractures have affected the road between San Vicente
and Canoa.  According to unofficial sources, 1,000 persons lost their
homes in the town of Canoa.  In San Vicente, approximately 70 houses have
been severely affected. In Bahia de Caraquez, most buildings with three or
more stories have been affected. Several apartment buildings have suffered
major non-structural damage. One six-story building (reinforced steel)
collapsed. Very few one / two-story buildings have been affected. 


Water supply, power and telephone services

6.  Water supply remains the most critical problem. Most of the affected
population has no access to safe water.  Tankers form neighbouring
communities, family wells and water purification equipment previously
donated by Norwegian Government, through the United Nations, are the only
available supply sources.  Power and telephone services were partially
restored today in 20 per cent of the Bahia de Caraquez urban area. 


Health

7.  The Hospital of Bahia de Caraquez has been severely affected and had
to be evacuated. Most delicate patients were transported by helicopter to
the Portoviejo's Hospital, capital of the Province. Medical teams from the
Ministry of Health are providing assistance in the affected areas. 


APPEAL FOR INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE

8.  Given the extent of the damages, the Government of Ecuador has made an
appeal for international assistance. A preliminary list of priority needs
has been established: 

- water supply equipment: water purification units and collapsible water
  tanks.
- Building materials and tools for home repair
- Family tents for tropical areas
- Cash for emergency operations
- Kitchen utensils for 1500 families.


NATIONAL RESPONSE

9.  The Government of Ecuador has announced that it will assign ECS 10
billion (approximately 1.8 million US dollars) to cover response and
rehabilitation costs.  An air lift operation with C-130's has been
established between Quito and San Vicente. 

10.  The Civil Defense in Bahia de Caraquez has activated an emergency
operation center. Daily meetings are being scheduled. Civil Defense and
Red Cross brigades are providing emergency relief to the affected
population. Army personnel and police officers are patrolling the affected
areas to avoid security problems. 


INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

11. Contributions reported to OCHA
                                                   USD
UN System

OCHA           Emergency cash grant for the
                    purchasing of relief supplies            15,000

Governments

Norway              Cash grant, through OCHA, from the
                    Norwegian Emergency Reserve Fund,
                    for the purchasing of relief supplies    15,000


12.  Donors wishing to channel their contributions through OCHA should
transfer funds to OCHA account no.  CO.590.160.1 at the Swiss Bank
Corporation, Case Postale 2770, CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland, with
reference: ECUADOR - EARTHQUAKE. 

13.  For coordination purposes, donors are requested to inform OCHA
Geneva, as indicated below, of relief missions, pledges or contributions
and their corresponding values by item. 



14.  This Situation Report and further information on ongoing emergencies
are also available on the OCHA Internet Website at:  http://
www.reliefweb.int. 

Telephone number: + 41-22-917-1234
In case of emergency only: + 41 22 917 2010
Desk Officers: Mr. Erik Haegglund, direct tel: + 41-22-917-3299
and Mr. Carlos Monteiro-Pereira, direct tel: +41-22-917-1383
Contact    person   for   the   media:   Ms.   Elena   Ponomareva,   direct
tel:+41-22-917-2336
Telex 41 42 42 ocha ch
Fax: + 41 22 917 0023
E-mail: info@dha.unicc.org


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