Earthquake, Tsunamis Hit Southern Asia; VU4 DXpedition in Emergency Mode

NEWINGTON, CT, Dec 26, 2004--A magnitude 8.9 earthquake struck off the coast of the northern Indonesian island of Sumatra just before 0100 UTC today, killing or injuring many thousands and causing widespread damage. The disaster also has shut down the Andaman and Nicobar Islands VU4RBI/VU4NRO DXpedition--perhaps permanently. The team appears to have shifted into emergency mode, since one of the stations was reported on the air earlier today using battery power to maintain communication with India. The earthquake, multiple aftershocks and tidal waves--tsunamis--of 30 feet or higher following the initial quake subsequently jolted the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The US Geological Survey's National Earthquake Information Center reports aftershocks between 5.7 and 7.3 on the Richter scale in the vicinity of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which are closer to the earthquake's epicenter than the Indian mainland.

"All of us here in the US are watching the unfolding news of the earthquake and tsunamis with shock and horror," ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, messaged Charly Harpole, K4VUD/VU3CHE, who has been visiting the VU4 DXpedition. Sumner asked Harpole to relay word "that all of you, and friends and families affected by the tragedy, are foremost in our thoughts and prayers." It's not known if Sumner's e-mail got through. Harpole has been filing regular e-mail dispatches via The Daily DX.

Unconfirmed DX spots from stations hearing VU4NRO or VU4RBI after the earthquake indicate that the five team members of the National Institute of Amateur Radio-sponsored DXpedition are okay. DX spots further indicated that power in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands was knocked out by the earthquake, which occurred at around 6:30 AM local time, and the consequent tsunamis. The VU4RBI/VU4NRO team was reported on the air running 20 W from battery power, working back to India and likely passing emergency traffic--although that has not been confirmed. The DXpedition had been scheduled to conclude operations December 31.

An IndiaNews report called the destruction in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands "unprecedented, with the gigantic tidal waves sinking two civilian ships and destroying dry docks."

Hardest hit were Indonesia, southeastern India and Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon). Estimates vary, but the natural disaster reportedly has claimed upward of 7000 lives, and the death toll continues to rise. It is the height of the tourist season in that part of the world, and many tourists were believed to have been among the earthquake's victims.

The DXpedition is headquartered in Port Blair on Andaman. News reports earlier today said that at least 20 people were killed and more than 100 injured in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. There was no prior warning of the disaster, and an unknown number of people among the islands' fishing crews at sea were reported missing. Many buildings and the main jetty at Port Blair were said to have been severely damaged. The airport, while damaged, was reopened and operating, and IndiaNews said the Indian Air Force had already sent three transports carrying relief supplies to the remote islands. Flights to evacuate tourists were pending.

Damage to the Port Blair jetty was hampering relief and rescue efforts by sea, according to Indian news media. Additional details were not available.

According to one news account, panic-stricken citizens of Port Blair ran out of their houses as the earthquake rocked the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Residents were being advised to stay outdoors. The tidal wave caused some flooding in the city.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are in a part of the world that makes them extremely vulnerable to major earthquakes as well as to tsunamis from large local quakes and from massive distant shocks such as today's. No warning system is presently in place for any of the islands of the chain. A major earthquake in 1941 caused extensive damage in Port Blair, destroying many of its major buildings.

Today's earthquake off Sumatra is being called the fifth largest in history.

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