Situation Report Mentawai Earthquakes February 25-26, 2008 A series of powerful earthquakes and aftershocks have again rattled the vulnerable Mentawai Islands chain just 5 months after the region was struck by two consecutive devastating quakes, which resulted in a major humanitarian response by SurfAid International. Immediate reports from SurfAid field staff indicate no casualties as a result of the quakes and all SurfAid field staff are reported safe. However in the southern region capital of Sikakap there are reports that more than a dozen houses and buildings badly damaged in the September 2007 quakes have now collapsed. Two of the earthquakes generated tsunami warnings which were later withdrawn by the Indonesian Meteorology and Geology Bureau (BMG). Early reports indicate that up to 300 families have evacuated to higher ground in the Sikakap and Sioban areas. The traumatized communities have erected tents in evacuation sites. According to SurfAid E-Prep Field Manager Ray Mathias the situation is normal in the district capital of TuaPejat (Sipora Island) and the Siberut sub-district capital Muara Siberut. The first heavy quake, measuring 7.2 on the Richter Scale, struck near the southern end of Sipora Island at 3.36pm local time yesterday (February 25). BMG immediately issued a local tsunami warning which was later withdrawn. Between 5.38pm and 1.06am (Feb 26) four more major shakes were recorded in the same region measuring between 4.9 and 6.3 on the Richter Scale. At around 4am (Feb 26) another heavy earthquake was recorded. Originally measured at 6.4 on the Richter Scale, BMG quickly adjusted this to 7.0 and issued another local tsunami warning. This warning was again withdrawn. Mathias met with the Mentawai Islands Regent and Vice Regent along with other key disaster response government figures late last night. The government has established an emergency command post at the Regent’s Office in TuaPejat and today (Feb 26) the Regent plans to visit Sikakap in the south to further evaluate the situation. The Mentawai Islands remain one of the most vulnerable areas in world in terms of earthquake and potential tsunami. GPS stations set up in the region by Indonesian researchers LIPI and American university Caltech indicate hazardous geographic conditions around the northern island of Siberut where the Indo-Australian and Eurasian continental plates remain locked. According to LIPI researchers these latest earthquakes could indicate a larger quake in the region. LIPI will now send a research team to the Mentawai Islands.